^ ^ Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler responds to Man Utd interest and sends message to Michael Carrick

Hurzeler among the names under consideration at Old Trafford (Picture: PA)

Fabian Hurzeler says he is fully committed to the job at hand at Brighton despite interest from Manchester United.

Michael Carrick is under immense pressure at Old Trafford and while he will remain in charge for this Sunday’s game against Bournemouth, the club are looking at possible alternatives after no wins in seven games.

Brighton meanwhile sit third, thrashing champions Arsenal before September’s international break having also eliminated United from the Carabao Cup.

Hurzeler has admirers at United and would be strongly considered should Carrick be relieved of his duties.

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The German however signed a new long-term contract with the Seagulls in May which ties him to the club until 2029, with the club well placed to demand a huge compensation fee were the head coach to move on.

And Hurzeler has insisted he remains focused on Brighton and is paying no attention to United’s reported interest.

‘I’m fully focused on my job here,’ Hurzeler told a press conference on Friday ahead of Brighton’s trip to Liverpool. ‘I’ve got no time to think about these rumours because we play every three days.

Carrick is under huge pressure at United (Picture: Getty)

‘I have a lot of respect for Michael Carrick and the job he has done at Manchester United the last season. He’s a great human being, a great personality, and I really respect him.

‘There’s nothing more to say about that.’

He continued: ‘I’m really privileged to be here,” Hurzeler said. ‘I’m part of a journey and I still have this feeling when I go to bed that we are not finished with our journey.

‘I always emphasise that I’m not 100 per cent satisfied and happy with where we are, there are still improvements to make and potential to get out of the players.

The German coach has Brighton sat in third place (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Therefore I really I want to work with that together with my staff. I have a great group of players, players who support me and give everything for the club.

‘We have built this [together] over the years. We’ve had good periods, we’ve had bad periods. To build these connections you need time. You don’t take these things for granted.

‘It’s a people business. Making a people business out of this pressure business is something I don’t take for granted and something I won’t throw away that fast.’

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^ ^ Antonio Conte makes two demands to Manchester United over replacing Michael Carrick

Antonio Conte has held talks over a potential move to Manchester United (MTB-Photo/Shutterstock)

Antonio Conte has held talks with Manchester United over replacing Michael Carrick but has ‘set specific conditions’ during negotiations with the club’s hierarchy, according to reports in Italy.

Michael Carrick’s position is under increasing threat following United’s 4-0 defeat away to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The result leaves United with just two wins in 11 matches across all competitions since the start of the season.

Carrick will remain in charge for United’s Premier League fixture at home to Bournemouth on Sunday but another heavy defeat could signal the end of the 45-year-old’s time at Old Trafford.

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According to La Repubblica, Conte is open to returning to the Premier League but the Italian has made his demands clear during discussions with senior United figures this week.

The report claims that Conte ‘is asking for carte blanche on the transfer market’ in order to improve the depth of United’s squad in January and next summer.

Antonio Conte won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2017 (Getty)

Conte also wants United’s hierarchy to allow him to identify the players already in the squad who will be a key part of his plans going forward, as well as those who will be considered surplus to requirements.

The Italian is said to want ‘trusted collaborators at his side’ if he is to make the move to United.

However, The Times reports that Conte’s salary demands, which would be in excess of £10 million a year, could be prohibitive.

United’s hierarchy also have concerns over Conte’s fiery personality, which was a factor behind his departure at both Chelsea and Tottenham.

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However, Conte has a proven track record of producing immediate results having guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge, as well as the Serie A title in his debut campaign with both Juventus and Napoli.

United, meanwhile, are exploring multiple options with Eddie Howe, who left Newcastle United in July, on the club’s shortlist alongside the former Bayern Munich and Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Unai Emery and Fabian Hurzeler are also admired by United’s hierarchy but both Aston Villa and Brighton would demand significant compensation packages.

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^ ^ Erling Haaland injury update ahead of Man City vs Aston Villa

Haaland scored twice last weekend (Picture: Matt West/Shutterstock)

Erling Haaland will be ‘100 per cent’ available for Manchester City when they take on Aston Villa this weekend.

The Norway international was not risked as City eased to a 5-1 win over AEK Athens in the Champions League with Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick on Tuesday night.

Haaland picked up a knock after scoring twice in the 3-2 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday and remained on the bench as an unused substitute midweek.

City take on Aston Villa as they return to Premier League action tomorrow with Maresca explaining after the win over AEK he saw little need to bring him on that evening.

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City are still assessing Nico O’Reilly, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes but Haaland has been passed fit by his manager.

‘They could all be available or not. There are still doubts,’ Maresca said.

‘Erling is the only one who is 100 per cent available and for the other three we need to wait.’

Haaland was not risked midweek (Picture: Getty)

Foden meanwhile is resurgence having scored four goals in his last two games since serving a domestic suspension.

The 26-year-old’s performances, including his hat-trick midweek, have raised the prospect of a return to the England fold after being dropped for the World Cup.

Maresca has taken a keen interest in Foden’s wellbeing since taking over at the Etihad Stadium in the summer.

The Italian said: ‘Since we started, I sat down with Phil two or three times – especially at the beginning – just to show him, I don’t know if love is the right word to use, but to show him how important he is.

‘I know Phil from years ago, so I know how good he is. For different reasons, the last few years he was not good enough but I think when you have players like Phil available you are a better team because it’s a matter of improving players.

‘For me, it’s my duty to try to help him to be one of the best players in England again.’

City head into the weekend three points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of Arsenal.

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^ ^ Michael Carrick fires back at Bruno Fernandes comments and blasts players

Defeat at Como was the latest low for Michael Carrick as manager of Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)

Michael Carrick hit back at pointed comments from Bruno Fernandes and heavily criticised his players as he was left ‘really angry’ by Manchester United’s 4-1 defeat at Como.

Managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas, Como are playing in the Champions League for the first time in their history but looked very much at ease against one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Goals from Nico Paz(2), Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon put the Italians 4-0 up, with only a late Joshua Zirkzee consolation giving the traveling fans something to cheer.

It has been a terrible start to the season for the Red Devils and the cracks that have already appeared are getting bigger, with captain Fernandes taking shots at Carrick and his coaching staff.

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Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, the Portuguese said: ‘It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a bit of space in behind and then try to get the ball in the first moment to wait for them, to give them the ball.

‘But sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams, they get confident, they have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot which makes people get frustrated.

‘And then, when we recover the ball, the legs and the brain are much more difficult to make it work.’

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Bruno Fernandes has cut a frustrated figure at Manchester United this season (Picture: REUTERS)

On whether Carrick got things wrong tactically, Fernandes said: ‘That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.’

The Manchester United boss, who has won just one of seven Premier League games this campaign, hit back at the criticism, blasting the efforts of his players on Wednesday night.

Carrick has largely defended his players so far during an underwhelming campaign, but said after the loss in Lombardy: ‘I’m bitterly disappointed, I’m frustrated, more than frustrated, I’m really angry.’

He responded to Fernandes’ criticism by hammering the effort of his players: ‘We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that.

Carrick apologised to the travelling Manchester United fans (Picture: Press Association)

‘And there’s a little bit on whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win.

‘We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight, I wouldn’t say everyone, but the way we went about it in some ways tonight wasn’t acceptable. And I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them, for sure.

‘It wasn’t just the goals, if I’m totally honest. It was the manner and the way we played at times, in the way we went about it, that was the difficult thing to watch for me.’

Asked if he felt his players were still playing for him, he said: ‘It’s not about playing for me, it’s about playing for this football club. It’s the responsibility that comes with being in the position; I’m responsible for the football club and the supporters.

Jacobo Ramón gets another for Como, as they now lead 4-0! 🤯

An unbelievable performance against Manchester United 👏

📺 Stream on TNT Sports & HBO Max: https://t.co/fRCRh6tXYB pic.twitter.com/SnzpwT7sSV

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 21, 2026

‘I’m giving my best, absolute best all the time, I care about it. My whole life’s wrapped around it. I genuinely give everything that I possibly can.’

Asked if his players were giving as much as him, the beleaguered boss said: ‘I would like to think so, I didn’t like what I saw tonight though.’

Carrick is now clear favourite with the bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager to leave their post.

The Red Devils host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, with enormous pressure on the manager to win a game his team should be huge favourites for.

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