Uncertainty still hangs over Man United coach Michael Carrick after Roma win

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United 's dramatic late win against Roma on Tuesday has barely eased the pressure on manager Michael Carrick.

Next up for United is a rejuvenated Aston Villa on Sunday in the Premier League.

Defeat would leave Carrick in a very uncomfortable position going into the November international break, which has often been a time when clubs make coaching changes after early season struggles.

Some may be surprised Carrick has held on for so long after a wretched start to the campaign has left the 20-time English champion one place above the relegation zone with only one league win.

The club hierarchy opted last month to give him a chance to rectify the situation, but a bruising 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth was followed by a 2-0 loss at Chelsea last weekend.

When 2-0 down to Roma after 17 minutes in the Champions League on Tuesday, it looked like there was no way back. A rousing second half fightback, however, sparked wild celebrations at Old Trafford and has players and fans hoping it could be the turning point.

“Nights like this can change momentum, can change seasons, and I think this win is going to give us confidence for the next games,” defender Diogo Dalot said.

Time will tell if that win proves to be a springboard or just another false dawn.

Villa is on the rise after a desperate start of its own when it failed to win its opening four games and picked up just one point following the sale of a raft of star players in the summer.

Coach Unai Emery has quickly reshaped his team in the absence of Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans, with striker Nicolas Jackson spearheading his new look side, which is now unbeaten in five.

Villa's turnaround could serve as inspiration for Carrick and United.

It was a similar story last season when Villa went six games in all competitions without a win before recovering to secure Champions League qualification and victory in the Europa League.

Villa has backed Emery, who transformed the Birmingham-based club from a relegation battler to a regular Champions League contender.

There is no surprise that some see him as an ideal candidate to bring the good times back to United, which is without a Premier League title since club great Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Likewise, there is no surprise that Villa is reportedly trying to tie him down to a long-term deal.

After back-to-back losses Manchester City travels to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and standings leader Arsenal is at home to Hull.

The FA Cup first round kicks off. Non-league Macclesfield, which pulled off the biggest upset in the history of the competition last season when knocking out holder Crystal Palace, faces Mansfield.

Nicolas Jackson has been transformed by Emery at Villa with eight goals in 13 appearances after struggling at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

United academy player Shea Lacey impressed when he came on against Roma and could be pushing for a start against Villa.

United's Lisandro Martinez is suspended following his red card against Chelsea last week and Carlos Baleba sustained a suspected hamstring injury against Roma.

Liverpool is monitoring Ryan Gravenberch as he recovers from a fractured heel

William Saliba has returned to full training at Arsenal, 3 ½ months after his last game in the World Cup semifinals for France.

United fans attempted to disrupt the Roma match by hurling tennis balls onto the field in protest against the club's ownership. It is not known if there will be further protests on Sunday.

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

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick applauds after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery gestures during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Barcelona and Aston Villa in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick applauds prior the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Things to watch this weekend in the Atlantic Coast Conference:

No. 1 Miami (8-0) at No. 4 Notre Dame (7-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

This one has been circled on the schedule all year, rooted in the Hurricanes beating the Fighting Irish last year in a game that ultimately swung a College Football Playoff bid to Miami instead of Notre Dame. And the Hurricanes rode that all the way to the CFP title game while the Irish opted out of playing in the postseason at all.

The Hurricanes have largely rolled through their schedule with the nation's top-scoring offense (47.6), though receiver and Heisman Trophy candidate Malachi Toney suffered an ankle injury this week and is scheduled for surgery that will sideline him for multiple weeks. In addition, Miami is coming off a game in which its defense struggled to get off the field in a comeback win at North Carolina on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish suffered their only loss at No. 7 BYU on Oct. 17. This is the first of four straight against ACC foes to close Notre Dame's schedule.

Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC) at SMU (6-2, 4-2), Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

The Mustangs are coming off a loss to Syracuse in a game that dropped them behind No. 14 Wake Forest in the chase to reach the ACC championship game. That put them in a logjam of two-loss teams in the standings, a group that includes the Hokies in James Franklin's first season in Blacksburg. That makes this something approaching an elimination game.

Clemson (5-3, 3-2) at Syracuse (4-4, 2-4), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN2)

The Tigers have no margin for error at this point as part of that group of two-loss teams, with losses to Miami and Virginia Tech. Now they're traveling to face the Orange, which started 0-4 in the league but edged North Carolina in overtime and then upset SMU last week.

— N.C. State RB Davion Gause. With starter Duke Scott still sidelined by injury, Gause ran 19 times for 104 yards and a touchdown in the weekend win against California in the first game under interim coach Todd Goebbel. That was Gause's best output for the Wolfpack since transferring from UNC and he is positioned for a role even when Scott returns.entering Saturday's visit by Duke.

— Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz. The Cardinals can't afford a stumble in Saturday's trip to Georgia Tech. Kienholz has run for five touchdowns in Louisville's current three-game winning streak.

Duke running back Nate Sheppard is No. 5 nationally in rushing (121.5) and third in rushing touchdowns (14) after going for five scores in a blowout of Boston College. ... Florida State visits Boston College on Saturday in its first game under interim coach Rick Stockstill after the firing of Mike Norvell. ... The Eagles had scored 27 points in a win against Pittsburgh and 49 points in a win at Georgia Tech, only to lose 47-2 last weekend to the Blue Devils. ... North Carolina defensive line coach Bob Diaco returns to UConn on Saturday when the Tar Heels face the Huskies program he led as head coach from 2014-16. Diaco went 11-26 in those three seasons. ... Wake Forest (5-1 ACC) steps out of ACC play to host Merrimack having scored 38 or more points in four straight games, including last weekend's 51-7 win against Virginia. ... California, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Virginia are idle this week.

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Miami tight end Elija Lofton (9) jumps over North Carolina defensive back Gregory Smith III (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)