Carrick seeks breathing space as United manager

Michael Carrick takes charge of Manchester United for what could be the last time against Aston Villa this weekend as he battles to save his job despite a morale-boosting midweek victory over Roma.

United’s dramatic win in the Champions League gave the coach breathing space but he remains under intense pressure ahead of the international break.

Elsewhere, Manchester City will be seeking to avoid a rare third straight league defeat when it faces Nottingham Forest as it tries to keep pace with leader Arsenal.

Last chance?

When Manchester United’s players trudged off at half-time against Roma on Tuesday, 2-0 down and seemingly out of ideas, Carrick’s fate appeared to be sealed.

Instead, his underperforming team somehow turned things around, with Matheus Cunha scoring two late goals in a 3-2 win at a feverish Old Trafford.

It ended a run of nine games without a victory — United’s longest winless run since the 1988/89 season.

The brutal reality is that United could be bottom of the Premier League when it kicks off on Sunday if results go against it.

Whatever the outcome, the international break will give the club’s hierarchy an opportunity to consider their long-term options.

Villa’s Spanish manager, Unai Emery, was tipped as a potential candidate for the Old Trafford hot seat but reports suggest he is close to signing a new deal with the Birmingham club.

Manchester City know that even if it keeps pace with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, it might ultimately all be in vain. The Etihad club is still waiting to discover its fate after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules — with a huge points deduction one potential punishment.

Arsenal appears to be the only other serious contender for the title. On paper, both clubs face a straightforward task this weekend, though City’s trip to Nottingham Forest could be trickier than it looks.

Opta’s “expected points” table, which orders the Premier League based on expected goals for and against, has Oliver Glasner’s team in third — a remarkable 16 places higher than it is in the real table.