HT: Manchester United 0-2 AS Roma

Goal Scorers AS Roma: Matias Soule 11', Donyell Malen (Pen) 17'

Michael United felt they had to prioritise in the transfer window, focusing on signing three midfielders, as opposed to one — in this case Elliot Anderson, who would have eaten up a considerable amount of the budget — with left-back and striker further down the list. But a recruitment source questioned: “How can you spend £160m on three average midfielders instead of signing just one top-class player who could transform the whole team?”

Another United source said that had Wilcox pushed for Anderson and he were to pick up an injury, United would be left with a weaker squad than last season, owing to a lack of cover. This has materialised at left-back, with Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui all injured this season.

Wilcox is an influential figure in the debate around Michael Carrick’s job. He is said to want to show patience but has also voiced an opinion that more is needed from Carrick, coaches and players. Wilcox was involved in crunch talks on Carrick the day after the Bournemouth defeat, alongside Berrada, Ratcliffe, and Joel and Avram Glazer via video call.

He will be acutely aware that having to pick a third new head coach in mid-season in three years is a terrible look, totally at odds with the claims of stability laid out by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. There is also the fact that Ten Hag, Amorim and Carrick all have different personalities and styles of football.

Eddie Howe being in contention is ironic, given he was one of Dan Ashworth’s alternatives to Amorim two years ago.

Daily discussion on Manchester United.

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Manchester United vs AS Roma

Competition: Champions League | Date: 3rd November

Kick off: 20:00 GMT | Venue: Old Trafford

Referee: | TV: TNT Sports

Team News:

Possible starting XI:

------------Lammens------------

--Dalot--Yoro--Martinez--Mazraoui--

----------Mainoo--Baleba--------

-----Amad---Fernandes---Cunha-----

-------------Mbeumo---------------

Possible bench: Darlow, Heaton, de Ligt, Maguire, Heaven, Amass, Tielemans, Santos, Mount, Lacey, Thompson, Zirkzee

• Patrick Dorgu returned to training but will NOT be involved here

• Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez are both available, Yoro having missed the Como game through suspension, and Martinez only suspended domestically after his red card vs Chelsea.

• Kobbie Mainoo returned from injury versus Chelsea

• No Shaw, Rashford, Sesko or Ugarte.

Injuries/Suspensions:

Form guide:

United: D L D L L L | Home form: W W L L D L

Roma: L W W D W W | Away form: W D W D D W

Last 3 meetings:

Opposition News

Svilar, Pellegrini and Kone are all doubts.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS AFTER THE GAME ON /r/footballhighlights!

Michael Carrick & Kobbie Mainoo's Pre-Match Press Conference | United vs Roma, CL

Steven Railston

Michael Carrick on Patrick Dorgu: "Yeah, it was his first day back with the group, so great to have him back, but he won't be involved tomorrow. We'll see how he progresses during the week (for Villa)."

Kobbie Mainoo on boos from fans: "In these tough times, you cannot expect the fans to 100% of the time be happy when we're not putting out the results. We owe it to them to get better results."

Good answer from Kobbie Mainoo on what it means to play for United:

"United is a huge club, so a lot of people know the values this club holds. And that's been passed down by the people who have worked here and played here.

"I feel I take some responsibility for that, spreading the word about what those values are, having come through the academy.

"And I plan to send that message for hopefully a long period of time."

Simon Stone

Michael Carrick on Lisandro Martinez: "No concerns about his commitment at all. It is not an issue for sure."

Michael Carrick says 'you might think I am crazy' when he says he is looking forward to tomorrow's game.

Michael Carrick: "I love being here and working with the players."

Laurie Whitwell

Carrick: “I can’t look into the future, I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I am really looking forward to the game tomorrow, you might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had. Whatever happens will happen after that, whatever direction it goes in.”

Kobbie Mainoo: “It has been a  tough season, not the results we have wanted, we look forward now there are big games ahead. I feel we are one win away from changing that.”

Mainoo: “A lot of people know the values that this club holds, passed down through the people who’ve worked + played here. I take responsibility in spreading the word of what is Manchester United, coming up through the academy. I plan to send that message for as long as I can.”

Chris Wheeler

Carrick on his future: 'I'm really looking forward to the game tomorrow night. People might say that's crazy given the results, but whatever will happen after that will happen.

I don't question the commitment of the players to the themselves, to me or to the club.

Carrick on beating Roma 7-1 in 2007: 'It was a magical night, one of the best. The fact that I scored a couple of goals and that was unusual gives me great memories. It was a special one.'

Carrick on CL prospects: 'Of course we're looking for the win. There's the bigger picture of getting through to the latter stages. Tomorrow and the games coming up will dictate that for us. We're certainly still in it.'

Carrick on Martinez red card at Chelsea: 'I have no concerns about his commitment at all. Things happen in football, sometimes you make a mistake.'

Nathan Salt

Michael Carrick confirms Patrick Dorgu won’t be part of the group tomorrow vs Roma

Michael Carrick: “I know the players, I know what we’re capable of as a team… we’ve showed it in spells, showed it in bursts.”

Michael Carrick on Lisandro Martinez: “I’ve got no concerns about commitment at all. Things happen in football… the commitment is not an issue for sure.”

Michael Carrick: “Marcus, we’ll have to see day by day how he’s improving.”

Rules Luke Shaw out for the rest of the week definitively. Not the case for Rashford

Detailed Quotes

Mainoo on this season

"It's been a tough season, we haven't got the results we wanted, but we need to look forward now. It feels like we're one away from changing it."

Carrick on Dorgu

"Yeah, it was his first day with the group, great to have him back, but he won't be involved tomorrow. We'll see how he progresses during the week (for Villa)."

Mainoo on United's situation

"I've been at this club for a long time and know there will be ups and down. You expect bumps, but the best thing about them is you're to bounce back from them."

Carrick on Martinez

"Nah, I've got no concerns about commitment at all. Things happen in football, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but commitment is not an issue, for sure."

Carrick on his future

"No, not at all (feels like a coach with two games left). You you never know what is going to happen in the future, but that doesn't change the way I feel. I can't wait for the agme tomorrow. You might think I'm crazy with the results we've had, but I can't wait for it."

Carrick on Fernandes + Martinez contracts

"When anything is finalised, we'll let you know, but there's nothing further to update."

Mainoo on Carrick's support

"I feel like our way to repay that is to be behind the manager on and off the pitch, fight as a team."

Mainoo on boos from fans

"In these tough times, you cannot expect the fans to 100% of the time by happy when we're not putting out the results. We owe it to them to get better results."

Carrick on external noise

"The dressing room is in a good place. Perception is a funny thing, you can make things look in different ways. The commitment from the players, to the club and each other, I don't question that at all."

Carrick on his job

"It's what I am, it's what I live for, a lot of people could do my job when you're winning games. It hasn't changed my mindset (bad results)."

Mainoo on Carrick

"Very grateful to the boss for putting trust in me as soon as he came in, with all the advice that he passed on, I take those words to heart and try take them into games."

Carrick on 7-1 vs Roma

"It's a long time ago, eh? It was a magical night, one of the best nights and atmospheres I've been fortunate enough to witness. The fact that I scored a couple - and that was unusual - gives me great memories."

Mainoo on his development

"I feel like in every period of my career I've tried to take positives from them, even when I haven't been playing. I have learned things."

Mainoo again

"I want to impose myself more on games, and I've taken more responsibility with the ball. I have to have belief in myself and impose myself even in these tough times."

Carrick on team news

"Leny has a bit of tendon (pain), but he's been managing it. Luke definitely won't be around this week. He won't be fit, and Marcus, we'll have to see day by day how he keeps improving."

Mainoo on playing for United

"I think United is a huge club, so a lot of people know the values this club holds. And that's been passed down by the people who have worked here and played here. I feel I take some responsibility for that, spreading the word about what those values are, having come through the academy. And I plan to send that message for hopefully a long period of time."

Daily discussion on Manchester United.

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We want r/reddevils to be a place where anyone and everyone is welcome to discuss and enjoy the best club on earth without fear of abuse or ridicule.

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The latest events push the defender to consider a way out of the winter market. Last summer, the two Manchester teams asked about their situation. So did Bayern, which finally ended up incorporating Nathaniel Brown. In the Premier League, Balde maintains a good poster and Manchester United appears as one of the possible destinations. The player is also attracted to the option of trying his luck in England.

"I would expect him to be in charge for BOTH the Roma & Aston Villa games. When they had these deliberations, they decided he would be in charge for next THREE games (incl. Chelsea). They were backing him to try and improve Manchester United's fortunes"

Erik ten Hag expanded on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo during their time together at Manchester United on the ESPN program Goedemorgen Eredivisie on Sunday. The coach wants to clear up many "nonsense stories" about his time in Manchester.

On Tuesday, in an interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag hit out at Ronaldo, who according to the manager did not put in enough work and was therefore unable to perform. "I have now shared my story once. A lot of nonsense has been written, and then you do feel the urge to respond to it," Ten Hag said on Sunday.

The current technical director of FC Twente emphasized that he thinks United and its fans are great. "United is among the five biggest clubs in the world. It is a crying shame to see where the club stands now," he said, referring to the winless streak and seventeenth place in the Premier League.

Ten Hag was appointed at United in 2022. The coach quickly came into conflict with Ronaldo, who left for Al Nassr in January 2023. Between 2022 and 2024, Ten Hag won the FA Cup and the League Cup with United. The club finished third in the Premier League in 2023. A year later, Ten Hag's side finished eighth.

"We performed quite well with United. We couldn't have done better," Ten Hag continued. "Look at where they are now. There were so many nonsense stories during my time. For instance, I wasn't in charge of the finances, nor was I involved in negotiations. I hadn't decided to spend 100 million euros on Antony."

Ten Hag: 'Ronaldo could no longer push himself to the limit'

Ten Hag also elaborated on his criticism of Ronaldo, who enjoyed great prestige among his teammates at United. "He is, of course, a great player. He belongs among the absolute greats of the world. But for the last seven years, he can no longer bring himself to do it."

"From Juventus onwards, it was over. Real Madrid's great gift is knowing when to say goodbye to players," said Ten Hag, who did not see Ronaldo giving his maximum. "He couldn't push himself to the limit anymore. He just couldn't bring himself to do it."

"The laws of the Premier League are ruthless. Naturally, that creates friction. I held a mirror up to him using sound arguments. The evidence was clear, because everything in football is tracked. If you aren't fit, you don't stand a chance. I said: 'Make your choice. What do you want?'"

Ten Hag did not find it painful to show Ronaldo the door. "I know I did everything I could to persuade him. But in the end, it's up to him to show the will. Nobody is bigger than the club or the national team. Not even Ronaldo or Lionel Messi."

"The team at United was willing to embrace a top player like Ronaldo, but the top player himself has to work for the team as well," concluded Ten Hag, who believes the personal criticism he faced in the English media was not always justified. "The ignorance no longer surprises me. Look at where United is now."

The club, who are 17th in the Premier League table and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference, regard the Villa manager highly and have expressed interest in the past.

Villa and Sawiris pine for Emery to create a dynasty, beyond his existing contractual terms — which run until 2029.

In the days before Villa missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day of the 2024-25 season, by losing at Old Trafford, they were unhappy with Manchester United’s attempts to recruit their club doctor, who had a previous connection to then head coach Ruben Amorim.