Man United's winless streak hits nine games after 2-0 Chelsea loss

Michael Carrick’s position as Manchester United manager faced further scrutiny on Saturday following a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea in the Premier League. The loss extends United’s winless run in all competitions to nine matches, a streak that has not lasted this long for the club since 1988.

Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored in the second half to secure the victory for Chelsea. The decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute when referee awarded a penalty. Lisandro Martinez jumped with a raised elbow toward Wesley Fofana during a corner kick, striking the defender in the face. A video review confirmed the offense, resulting in a second yellow card for the Argentina defender within a four-minute span.

Carrick restored Bruno Fernandes to the starting lineup after dropping the captain the previous week. Despite the tactical adjustment, the team failed to find a winning formula. Carrick noted that the game unraveled quickly after the red card. He described the sending-off as a major moment that heavily influenced the outcome.

The manager acknowledged that things had gone against the team in a big way. Martinez, who had recently criticized the club’s hierarchy in an interview, left the field without Carrick acknowledging him directly in the tunnel. United now stands with only one victory in nine league games, placing the club just one point above the relegation zone.

The 20-time English champions have won only two of their last 13 matches across all competitions. Those victories came against promoted Ipswich in the Premier League and tournament newcomer Sabah in the Champions League. United is scheduled to host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, raising questions about whether Carrick will remain in charge.

Forward Bryan Mbeumo defended the team’s effort, stating that the mentality was present from the first minute. He suggested the squad missed early chances to take control but maintained that the players still trust one another. The match was one of eight played on Saturday, with Manchester City hosting Brighton in another high-profile contest.