By Ahmad Ali, Sports Editor
Manchester United’s crisis deepened at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Chelsea beat a 10-man United side 2-0 after Lisandro Martinez was sent off for two bookable offences in about 83 seconds, and the pressure on Michael Carrick is now heavier than ever. Rogers put the hosts ahead just after half-time. Martinez’s second yellow card, given after a VAR review, also handed Chelsea a penalty, and Cole Palmer scored it to settle the game with 27 minutes of normal time left.
The defeat leaves United 16th in the Premier League with seven points from nine matches, one point above the relegation zone. They have now gone nine games without a win in all competitions, their worst run since the 1988-89 season.
Martinez’s moment of madness
United reached half-time level and had reason to think they could get something from the game. That hope did not last long into the second half. Romeo Lavia took the ball off Bryan Mbeumo in midfield, Martinez was caught watching the ball, and Rogers finished to give Chelsea the lead.
What came next will be talked about at Old Trafford for weeks. Martinez was booked by referee Peter Bankes for pulling back Rogers. Within moments, as Estevao swung in a corner, the Argentine pushed an arm into Wesley Fofana’s face. VAR official James Bell asked Bankes to look again. The incident brought Martinez a second yellow card and gave Chelsea a penalty. Palmer scored from the spot, and the contest was effectively over.
Reports disagree on exactly how long separated the two offences. BBC Sport put it at 83 seconds, while other outlets said it was between two and four minutes. Nobody disputed the verdict. Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann called Martinez’s actions “inexplicable” and said the defender had been “rightly sent off.” Former England midfielder Danny Murphy went further and called Martinez a “liability” in a game United could not afford to lose.
Carrick did not try to defend his player. “It’s a big moment in the game,” the United head coach said, before admitting he had “no words” to explain what had happened.
A run without precedent in the modern era
Saturday’s loss came at the end of a damaging fortnight. United were beaten 4-1 by Como in the Champions League, and Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned the side’s tactics afterwards. Carrick responded by dropping his captain. Then came a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October, with Rayan, Adam Tavernier and Evanilson scoring. Old Trafford turned on the team that day.
Nine games without a win in all competitions puts this run alongside the bleakest spells in United’s history. It is their worst sequence since 1988-89, when Sir Alex Ferguson was still years away from his first league title. Back then the club was rebuilding. Today the squad has cost far more than almost any in Europe, and the expectation is very different.
The table is uncomfortable reading:
- 16th place after nine Premier League matches
- Seven points, one above the relegation zone
- Nine matches without a win in all competitions
- Heavy defeats by Como (4-1) and Bournemouth (3-0) in the past fortnight
Chelsea, by contrast, were sharp, organised and ready to punish mistakes. Lavia’s ball-winning, Palmer’s composure from the spot and Rogers’ movement were in sharp contrast to the visitors’ chaotic defending.
Carrick’s position under scrutiny
Carrick kept his job going into this fixture despite the Bournemouth defeat. This performance is unlikely to have strengthened his position. In the past week, reports have said United’s football leadership, including technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, have discussed possible alternatives.
Eddie Howe has been widely reported as a leading candidate. He has been out of work since leaving Newcastle on 31 July after nearly five years at St James’ Park. Several outlets have reported that Howe is Wilcox’s preferred choice, and that the compensation owed to Newcastle under a clause in his old contract has fallen to about £3m. Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte have also been mentioned, although the board is reportedly divided on how to proceed.
For Carrick, the issue is no longer one bad result. United have looked fragile in defence, unsure in possession and divided off the pitch, as the Fernandes episode showed. A manager can survive one of those problems. Having all three at once usually ends in a change.
What comes next for United
The fixture list gives Carrick no easy way out. United host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, needing a response after the defeat in Como. Aston Villa then visit Old Trafford in the Premier League, and Martinez will be suspended. That leaves an already shaky defence without one of its most experienced players.
Villa’s visit adds more tension. Their owner Nassef Sawiris has publicly threatened legal action against Jamie Carragher over comments made on the Stick to Football podcast. Both clubs will arrive at that fixture under scrutiny for very different reasons.
Carrick has two home games to change the mood. A win over Roma would ease the pressure a little and could revive United’s European campaign. Another defeat, followed by a poor result against Villa, would probably force the hierarchy to act.
At Stamford Bridge, the difference between the sides was not only one red card. Chelsea were well drilled and played with conviction. United lacked both. A side that cannot keep its discipline, its shape or a lead is a side in trouble, and right now United cannot be counted on for any of those.
Ahmad Ali is Sports Editor at SportsPortal.net.
Sports journalist and editor at SportsPortal.net. Covers cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, and basketball with a focus on how global sports connect with Pakistani audiences. Follows the PSL, Pakistan national cricket team, Premier League, and major international tournaments. Has reported on sports for digital audiences since 2021.
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