Manchester United's decline has ceased to be a temporary crisis. The team has dropped to 17th place in the Premier League table, and a series of poor results has led fans to seriously discuss the threat of relegation, something the club hasn't faced in 50 years.
After nine matches, the Mancunians have accumulated just seven points. If this trend continues, they may not reach even 30 points by the end of the season. The "Red Devils" have failed to win their last nine matches in all competitions, marking their worst streak since the 1988/89 season. The last time the club found itself in the relegation zone after nine games was back in 1989.
Despite the recent 0-2 defeat to Chelsea, head coach Michael Carrick remains calm.
We have to move forward and continue to win matches, it's that simple. You can look at it from one angle, or you can think about how quickly you can rise in the table if you start winning. That's how we need to approach the situation.
However, Carrick knows well what relegation feels like; during the 2002/03 season, he experienced it as a player for West Ham, despite being part of a star-studded team that included Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe.
The situation is exacerbated by a challenging fixture list. After facing Aston Villa, Manchester United will have away matches against Liverpool, Newcastle, and Arsenal. Additionally, the team has lost defender Lisandro Martinez to suspension. Former World Cup final referee Darren Cann described the Argentine's sending off as unwarranted during a discussion on BBC Sport.
If the worst-case scenario occurs, the club faces financial catastrophe. Football finance expert Paul Quinn estimates potential revenue losses to be in the hundreds of millions of pounds. The situation is further complicated by a £1.15 billion debt and plans to build a new stadium that many fans oppose.
For now, there are no immediate plans to sack Michael Carrick, and he will continue to prepare the team for their Champions League match against Roma.
