The boos have started at Man United after another troubled start to the season

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The boos that rang round Old Trafford on Wednesday have become a familiar sound in recent times.

For Michael Carrick, however, it is a new experience after a whirlwind start at Manchester United, which saw him inject a new sense of optimism into the club on the wave of high profile wins and a return to the Champions League.

So impressive was Carrick’s tenure as stand-in coach when stepping into the shoes of the fired Ruben Amorim last season that he was rewarded with a long-term contract and the opportunity to bring the good times back to a club that has been in decline for more than a decade.

Things feel anything but good at United right now after a troubled start to the campaign, which has seen it lose three of its opening six games and crash out of the English League Cup.

Add to that the news that its most exciting academy prospect has asked to leave, while fans have launched fresh protests against the ownership.

Then there was the error by VAR officials which cost United the match against fierce rival Manchester City last week.

Going into the first international break of the season, the pressure is already mounting on Carrick ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with winless Fulham.

“When we win, people say I’m doing a good job. If we don’t win or don’t get results, then a lot of it is on me. I accept that. I’m not hiding away from any of that,” Carrick said.

As a player, Carrick knew almost nothing but success as part of club icon Alex Ferguson’s last great squad, winning the Champions League in 2008 and a full set of domestic trophies.

He was beloved by fans, but that will only go so far if he is unable to turn performances around.

Carrick is the seventh permanent manager since the retirement of Ferguson in 2013 and follows in the footsteps of top-tier names like Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, who failed to return United to the summit of English soccer.

United has not won the Premier League title since Ferguson’s final season and Carrick’s team is already eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal and City going into the next round of games.

There is no suggestion that his position is under threat, but Carrick is fully aware of the expectations at a club that is desperate to return to the top.

“It feels bad at the moment because we haven’t had a great week, or two or three weeks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win another game of football quickly,” he said. "The players have shown before what they’re capable of doing, and we have as a group. It doesn’t count for much, it’s always about what happens next. That’s the ultimate challenge.

“We’ve certainly got to deal with this moment in a good way.”

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa is a high pressure game, with both teams winless at the start of the season. Spurs spent $400 million on new players but is yet to even score a goal in the Premier League and crashed out of the League Cup midweek.

Villa is still coming to terms with the loss of most of its star players and has managed just one draw from four games.

Defending champion Arsenal is at Brighton and Man City hosts Sunderland.

Liverpool fans are waiting to see new signing Bradley Barcola make a big impact following his move from Paris Saint-Germain. Liverpool travels to Bournemouth on Sunday.

Chelsea's Joao Pedro has pulled out of Brazil's upcoming friendlies because of injury.

All eyes on VAR this weekend. After last week's high-profile blunder saw Erling Haaland wrongly awarded the winning goal against Manchester United, VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down for this round of fixtures.

Pro Ref, the governing body for English soccer officials, will be keen to avoid any further mishaps before the international break.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick walks on the pitch at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, left, argues with Referee Farai Hallam at the end of the English League Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Mason Mount reacts after Brighton's Pascal Gross scoring his side's second goal during the English League Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick, right, leaves the field after the English League Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African police said Thursday a ninth woman’s body has been discovered in an area east of Johannesburg, and said it could be linked to a series of killings they are investigating.

All nine bodies were found in the Ekurhuleni municipality over the last two months, raising concerns that they were carried out by the same person or people. Police previously said that some similarities in the killings of the first eight victims were “sufficiently concerning for the police to issue a public warning.”

The discoveries have sent shock waves around the country, sparked a high-level investigation and highlighted the scourge of femicide and high levels of violent crime.

Police said the discovery of the latest body early Thursday “will be added to the investigations into the deaths of women in Ekurhuleni.”

Provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana said a passerby found the woman’s body near a construction site and alerted police.

The unidentified woman appeared to be about 30 and had an apparent stab wound to her side, while her throat appeared to have been cut, he said. Forensic investigators had not yet determined the official cause of death.

Kekana said police had not established whether her death was linked to the other cases and appealed for information.

He also urged people not to circulate photographs of the bodies or unverified reports on social media, warning that they were spreading fear and could encourage copycat crimes.

Residents of Dawn Park, the Johannesburg suburb where the ninth body was found on Thursday, were stunned by the discovery.

“I hope the government can assist us by arresting the person or people who have been committing these killings, because the current situation is becoming unbearable. We don’t know what’s to happen next,” said Nomgqibelo Tshabalala, a Dawn Park resident.

A multidisciplinary team of experts is investigating.

So far, bodies have been found across several Ekurhuleni communities, including Kempton Park, Pomona, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rhodesfield, KwaThema and Dawn Park.

Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng province, said police were making progress in two or three cases, although he did not provide details. He urged the public to give investigators time to gather sufficient evidence.

“They’ve declared war against the state. We’ll respond,” Lesufi told reporters at the scene. “We’re not going to surrender.”

Missing In Southern Africa, which supports missing people and their families, urged communities and families to report immediately when they suspected that one of their relatives might be missing.

The organization said the discoveries had deepened the anguish of families searching for loved ones.

“There is no waiting period to report a missing person,” it said. “The moment you suspect that someone is missing, report it immediately to the South African Police Service.”

Running clubs across Johannesburg have this week organized memorial runs in honor of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, the woman who disappeared last week while jogging and was found dead several days later.

Some communities across Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, have held prayer services for the victims.

Women’s rights advocates, political parties and civil society organizations marched to Kempton Park Police Station on Thursday, demanding stronger measures to protect women and children and hold perpetrators accountable.

A coalition representing more than 1,000 faith leaders, activists and partner organizations called for tougher action against gender-based violence and more accountability. They urged those at the top of religious hierarchies to address the issue openly and help survivors obtain shelter, counseling and legal assistance.

“Too often, silence from the pulpit has stood in for the courage to name gender-based violence directly,” it said. “That silence must end.”

Associated Press video journalist Kayleen Morgan in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

A body, believed to be that of a woman, is found along a road in KwaThema, Springs, South Africa, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo)

A forensic officer works at the scene where a sixth body, believed to be that of a woman, was found along a road in KwaThema, Springs, South Africa, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo)