Manchester United are reportedly considering Antonio Conte as pressure grows on Michael Carrick after the club matched its worst-ever Premier League start.
Manchester United consider Conte as pressure grows on Carrick
Manchester United poor start to the new Premier League season has already increased pressure on Michael Carrick, with the club sitting 13th in the table after collecting only four points from their opening four matches. One victory, one draw and two defeats have left the Red Devils well below the positions they would have hoped to occupy at this stage of the campaign, and questions are beginning to emerge over whether Carrick will be given enough time to turn the situation around. The early numbers are particularly uncomfortable because United have now equalled their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, matching the same total of four points from four rounds that they recorded last year.
Against that background, reports in Italy have already begun linking Manchester United with possible alternatives. According to Corriere della Sera, Antonio Conte is one of the names being considered by the club in the event that the current relationship with Carrick comes to an end. Conte has been without a club since leaving Napoli at the end of the 2025/26 season and would represent a very different profile from the current United coach, bringing extensive experience at the highest level and a reputation built across several major European jobs. The report does not suggest that a change has already been decided, but the fact that another high-profile coach is being mentioned so early in the season reflects the pressure surrounding Carrick after only four league fixtures.
The timing of the speculation is significant because United entered the campaign hoping to build on the more encouraging period they had shown under Carrick previously. Instead, the opening weeks have recreated some of the same concerns that surrounded the club last season. Four points from a possible 12 is not enough for a team with United ambitions, particularly when the objective is to move back towards the Champions League places and eventually become competitive at the top of the Premier League again. The current position of 13th does not in itself determine how the season will unfold, but the combination of poor results and the historical comparison with the club worst Premier League start has inevitably increased scrutiny around the coaching position.
Conte emerges as possible option
Conte is an obvious name whenever a major European club begins considering a change of direction because of the level of experience he can offer. He has worked in demanding environments, managed clubs expected to win immediately and built a reputation as a coach who places enormous emphasis on organisation, tactical discipline and competitiveness. From United perspective, those characteristics would make him an understandable candidate if the hierarchy eventually concluded that Carrick was no longer the right man to lead the project. For now, however, the situation remains hypothetical. Carrick is still in charge and has an opportunity to respond, while Conte remains available following his departure from Napoli.
What makes the situation more interesting is that Manchester United are reportedly not the only club monitoring the Italian. Corriere della Sera also suggests that Juventus continue to keep the possibility of bringing Conte back under consideration. That creates the potential for competition should either club decide to move seriously for him. Conte has a long history in Italian football and Juventus would represent a familiar environment, while United would offer another opportunity in the Premier League and the challenge of rebuilding one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Carrick under pressure after four difficult rounds
For Carrick, the immediate priority is straightforward: United need results quickly enough to stop the conversation around possible replacements from growing. A slow start does not automatically mean the season is lost, but the pressure at Old Trafford is rarely patient when expectations are high. Every dropped point becomes part of a broader discussion about whether the club is progressing, whether the squad is responding to the coach and whether the long-term project is moving in the right direction. Carrick now finds himself needing to show that the poor opening is temporary rather than the beginning of another frustrating campaign.
The statistical comparison with last season makes the situation particularly uncomfortable. United have four points from four matches, exactly the same total that represented their worst opening to a Premier League season a year ago. Matching that unwanted record after another summer of preparation is difficult to dismiss, especially for a club that expected improvement. While the sample remains small and there is still plenty of time to recover, the opening has placed Carrick in a position where every upcoming fixture carries greater importance.
United hierarchy faces familiar questions
The latest speculation also highlights a wider issue that Manchester United have faced repeatedly in recent years: how long to support a coach when results begin to deteriorate. Changing manager too quickly can interrupt continuity and create another reset, but waiting too long can allow a disappointing season to become increasingly difficult to recover. The mention of Conte suggests the club is at least being associated with possible contingency plans should the current situation worsen, even though there is no indication yet that a dismissal is imminent.
For United, the decision would not simply be about replacing one coach with another. Appointing Conte would represent a major strategic choice because his methods, personality and expectations are strong and clearly defined. Any club bringing him in would need to be prepared to support his approach fully. Carrick, by contrast, still has the opportunity to stabilise results and make the speculation irrelevant. A positive run could quickly change the mood, while further defeats would inevitably increase the pressure and make reports about possible successors more prominent.
Juventus remain another possible destination for Conte
Juventus interest adds another layer to the story because Conte is not simply waiting for one specific opportunity. The Italian club reportedly continue to consider him as an option, meaning Manchester United could not assume he would remain available indefinitely if they eventually decided to make a change. His history in Turin would make any potential return significant, while his availability ensures that he will continue to be linked with major jobs whenever uncertainty develops around a coach.
From Conte perspective, remaining out of work after leaving Napoli gives him the freedom to evaluate his next move carefully. A return to Juventus would mean going back to an environment he already knows well, while Manchester United would offer a different challenge centred on restoring a club that has struggled to rediscover consistent success in the Premier League. Both possibilities would carry substantial expectations, and neither would be a straightforward assignment.
Worst-ever start increases urgency
The key fact for Manchester United remains the league table. Four matches have produced only four points, leaving the club 13th and matching the worst Premier League start in their history. That statistic alone does not decide Carrick future, but it helps explain why discussion around alternatives has started so early. United need a strong response before the pressure becomes more serious and before speculation about Conte or other coaches begins to dominate the season.
For now, Carrick remains in charge and still has the opportunity to reverse the situation. The Premier League campaign is only at an early stage, and a sequence of victories could quickly improve both the standings and the atmosphere around Old Trafford. The concern, however, is that United have already reached an unwanted historical benchmark after just four rounds. If results do not improve, the possibility of a coaching change will inevitably remain part of the conversation, and Antonio Conte appears to be one of the most prominent names currently being discussed as a potential successor.
