Michael Carrick risks an untimely spell in the ‘crisis’ box seat

Following the conclusion of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures, football fans have what promises to be an exceptionally long, uninspiring and largely inconsequential international break to endure. In most parts of the world, various nations have nothing more exciting than friendlies scheduled. In Europe, it’s the return of the Nations League. A competition apparently conceived for no other reason than to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to spuriously claim he has won two major international trophies, this Uefa wheeze is about to kick off for the fifth time. Almost unique among tournaments that have enjoyed such longevity, its format remains fairly baffling to many of those who will actually be playing in it and all but the keenest students of the game. In truth, hardly anyone cares about the Nations League and quite literally nobody gives two hoots about its opening games.

As is customary in the absence of anything more interesting to report on, hacks will be keeping their ears cupped towards the continent in the hope that some loose-lipped South American Premier League star cuts a promo about a perceived dissatisfaction with their lot. Otherwise, the first top-flight head coach whose club is deemed to be “in crisis” will be lined up in the collective media crosshairs and, as things stand, it is Michael Carrick who is in the box seat.

“Under pressure?” he replied to assorted reporters in the wake of Manchester United’s dismal capitulation after going 2-0 up against Brighton in the Milk Cup. “That doesn’t bother me one bit.” As words of defiance go, they may have sounded more convincing if they hadn’t been uttered by a man who appears to have aged 20 years across his first six games in proper charge, only two of which have been won. “I understand what goes on and how the world works,” he added with a sigh.

In recent years there has been a recurring rinse-and-repeat cycle as far as what goes on and how the world works at United. Specifically one involving the dismissal of head coaches following widespread media speculation regarding their abilities to paper over the giant chasms caused by boardroom penny-pinching, dismal player recruitment and ongoing fan dissatisfaction, for which somebody – anybody but the owners and their besuited yes-men – must carry the can. Whether it’s Ole, Erik, Ruben, or the new incumbent, the story only ever seems to end one way, and just six games into the new season, it already seems the die has been cast for the cycle to begin again. Outwitted by Fabian Hürzeler, while his players were torn apart out on the field, Carrick can’t be absolved of all blame for United’s many shortcomings on and off the field. Anything but a win in Sunday’s crisis klaxon derby at Fulham and his future, or lack of one at Old Trafford, will be a tedious but unavoidable talking point for what promise to be 16 already very long days.

Join Michael Butler from 7.30pm for hot Milk Cup minute-by-minute updates from Manchester City 3-1 Norwich, while Scott Murray will be your guide at 8pm for the night’s Bigger Vase action in his clockwatch, featuring Real Sociedad 1-1 Bournemouth, plus Crystal Palace 1-0 Lech Poznan.

“You can try to kill me here. But it’s my scar, it’s not your scar. No one is more hurt than me, no one wanted it more. They can endlessly torture you and think: ‘If I had done different substitutions, then we would have won the match.’ You just don’t know it” – Thomas Tuchel stands by his heavily criticised defensive regression during the Geopolitics World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, adding that the opposition tactics forced his hand: “Sorry for the language, [they played eff]-it football: ‘We have nothing to lose. Let’s [eff] it.’”

I met Ludek Miklosko once. In fact, shaking my hand was one of the first things he had to endure after signing for West Ham in the summer of 1990. (The history books say he signed earlier, but he wasn’t officially unveiled until the summer.) I was working in the club shop at Upton Park (a cabin by the gates). He seemed baffled that now he was finally here and had escaped the communist regime, he was being introduced to a child as ‘our new goalkeeper’. He was very nice about it, though; I showed him the new kit, and he went on to meet the groundsman and have a look at the pitch. My lasting memory was of his truly massive hands. Lovely fella” – Jimmy O’Brien.

I was struck by the phrase that Madrid’s Carlos Espí ‘dug his side out of a hole’ (yesterday’s Football Daily). Surely, one cannot dig oneself out of a hole? Digging, by definition, takes you further into the ground. Unless the goal was to arrive in China, climbing out of a hole would be more appropriate” – Christopher D’Cruz.

Amalgamating the themes of yesterday’s three letters, Spurs fans can at least be hopeful about one thing. Since a player who spends much of the time rolling around knacked near the corner flag can’t be interfering with play, then at least none of their forward line will be caught offside much this year” – Jon Millard.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Jimmy O’Brien. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. 

New Germany head coach Jürgen Klopp has called up 44 players in two separate squads before the upcoming round of four Nations League games, and wants the national team to help ensure “national pride is not entrusted to the wrong people” after a recent far-right AfD election victory. “I’d like to reclaim the flag for myself and for us,” he declared. “When we wave it, I don’t want that someone thinks ‘what’s going on with you?’ I want that they think you’re happy and you understand how lucky you are to be born in this wonderful country or to have moved here and live here.”

Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun have been fined £20,000 and given a two-game stadium ban after fans chanted about Diogo Jota.

Real Madrid are chief among the European clubs trying to persuade JJ Gabriel they can offer the best future path once he leaves Old Trafford.

Todd Boehly and Mark Walter have sold their stakes in Chelsea, as the Clearlake Capital consortium takes full control of the Blues.

Fifty-three years on from their last appearance in Europe, Sunderland are basking in the glow of a 1-0 win over AZ in Bigger Vase, courtesy of Enzo Le Fée’s second-half penalty on Wearside.

Everton, Aston Villa and Fleetwood Town have joined Brighton in the Worthington Cup fourth round, the draw for which has pit the League Two minnows at home to Arsenal, along with setting a tasty Liverpool v Chelsea tie.

And that lesser-spotted 7-2 scoreline you can see is from La Liga, where Raphinha’s hat-trick helped Barcelona rout Racing Santander, making Hansi Flick their first manager to win his first seven games of the season.

Could a 39-year-old Lionel Messi really win the men’s Ballon d’Or? David Beckham thinks so, after the diminutive Argentinian netted his 100th strike for Inter Miami in a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul, which sealed Campeones Cup glory. “When you see him do things like this, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had, there is no one at 39 that’s doing that, and doing it at that level,” parped Beckham. “He deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, he should win it.” The fact Messi plays across the pond didn’t hold him back in 2023 when he picked up his eighth Ballon d’Or and he is, of course, on the 30-man shortlist for 2026. One man not fully championing Messi is MLS chief suit Don Gerber, seen receiving angry finger prods from Messi on the Nu Stadium turf. The pair have been at loggerheads for a while, usually over the standard of officiating in MLS.

The bleak tale of Raheem Sterling’s demise is a reminder of the absurd path young footballers have to take, writes Jonathan Liew.

San Siro is turning 100, so Nicky Bandini caught up with Milan great Alessandro Costacurta to talk about it.