EXCLUSIVE
Michael Carrick looks on after Manchester United's defeat to Brighton

Manchester United have been urged not to 'wait until Christmas' before sacking Michael Carrick.

The Red Devils boss saw his side booed off after their Carabao Cup exit on Wednesday night.

Michael Carrick looks on during Manchester United's defeat to Brighton
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United have been urged to sack Carrick after their third defeat of the seasonCredit: Getty

United were beaten 3-2 by Brighton at Old Trafford despite taking a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

It is the first time in 50 years that they have lost a home match after leading by two goals.

The defeat followed a loss to Manchester City on Sunday, with United already losing three of their six matches in all competitions this term.

United told to sack Carrick

However, Carrick's future divided the talkSPORT studio after Wednesday's match as Jamie O'Hara and Jason Cundy reacted to the result.

The Sports Bar hosts were split on whether the Red Devils should part ways with their current manager.

After a caller asked who United would replace Carrick with, O'Hara replied: "Let’s not start talking about new managers.

"We’re not having that conversation. I don’t want to hear Man United fans talking about ‘who can we bring in?’

"You can’t keep changing your manager. You’re the same as Tottenham. You’ve got a problem. You’ve got a mentality problem.

"It isn’t the manager. It doesn’t matter who you bring in, you still have the same problems."

Cundy was convinced a change is needed, though, as he called for Aston Villa's Unai Emery to be appointed.

He hit back: "Unai Emery. Go and get him. Get him out of Villa."

The Spaniard has taken Villa into Europe in four successive seasons, as well as winning the Europa League in May.

However, O'Hara has doubts Emery would be interested in the United job.

Would Emery take United job?

He responded: "I don’t know if Unai Emery wants to be Man United manager. Why would he want to go in there?"

Cundy then admitted: "That’s what I’d do. If I was Sir Jim Ratcliffe, I’d now cut my losses and go and get Unai.

"Don’t wait until Christmas to have the conversation, do it now."

Unai Emery receives his Europa League winners medal
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Cundy has called for United to appoint Emery as Carrick's replacementCredit: Getty

O'Hara's stance remained unchanged, though, as he argued: "Unai Emery isn’t going to leave Villa now anyway. He isn’t leaving Villa.

"You just said they’re (United) skint. They’ve got to sack Carrick, then you’ve got to buy Unai Emery out of Villa and then you’ve got to pay him £10-15million. You just said they’ve got no money."

The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder added: "I think, Man United, it’s a bad night, it’s a terrible night and it’s garbage, but they need to just chill the beans."

Carrick was appointed permanent manager in May on a two-year deal through to the summer of 2028.

It followed a successful spell as caretaker boss having replaced Ruben Amorim back in January.

During his time in caretaker charge, Carrick won 11 of his 16 matches to guide United to a third place finish and Champions League qualification.

Michael Carrick looks on after Manchester United's defeat to Brighton
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Carrick claims he is not feeling the pressure despite United's slow start to the seasonCredit: Getty

Carrick responds to pressure

The 45-year-old admitted after the defeat to Brighton he is not fazed by any potential pressure surrounding his job security.

Carrick told reporters: "I don’t feel under pressure. Either way that doesn’t bother me one bit. It genuinely doesn’t bother me one bit.

"I understand what goes on outside and how the world works but genuinely it doesn’t bother me.

"What bothers me is winning games and having a good feeling around the place and a good feeling around the group to know we’re moving in a good direction. That’s ultimately what bothers me."

United travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday afternoon ahead of the international break.

A defeat could see the Red Devils end the weekend in the relegation zone.

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