Man Utd: Conte says he is ready, Carrick sees a fresh start after Leeds draw

Bryan Mbeumo put United in front in the 35th minute from a Youri Tielemans cross, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin replied in the 51st from a poorly defended corner, deflected by Tarik Muharemovic. Leeds and Manchester United drew 1-1 at Elland Road on Sunday.

The table says the rest: one win in seven games, 13th place, seven points. It is United’s lowest tally of wins at this stage of a league season since 1986-87, according to Sky Sports, while BBC Sport, counting all competitions, reaches six games without a win, a first since 2019. In our match preview I took Leeds to win at 2.42 with 1xbet: the draw cost the bet, which stays on our public record. 18+. Only bet what you can afford to lose.

A rumour that changed newspapers, not status

Sky Sports’ paper talk, citing the Daily Mirror, reports that Antonio Conte “has made it known to Manchester United bosses that he would be keen on the job” if the club decided to part with Michael Carrick. The club have confirmed nothing, and the article does not say where the Italian works now. The noise is not new: our October 13 piece relayed talks reported by the Italian press before the trip to Atlético. Five days on, the rumour has changed newspapers, not status.

Carrick brushes aside questions over his future

At his Friday press conference, Carrick brushed any talk of himself aside: “It’s not important. It’s about this football club and winning football matches.” On Sunday evening he told ESPN “the situation doesn’t look great” while backing his squad to “go on a good run”, praised the “unity” his side showed at Elland Road in his BBC interview, and told Sky Sports the draw had felt like “a bit of a fresh start”.

January for the defence

The transfer market already shapes what comes next. According to Sky Sports, United are preparing an overhaul of their defence, with centre-backs and left-backs on the list across the next two windows, after investing in attack and midfield. “When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it,” Carrick said. Asked about his own future, he replied: “I do, yeah. But it’s not something that I think about.”

The next test comes quickly: United travel to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday. Until the club decides, I will read every price on the Red Devils with the same unknown: the name of the man standing on the touchline.