Manchester United face longest relegation zone stay in 40 years as crisis deepens

With the international break upon us, Manchester United are now certain to spend at least 15 consecutive days in the Premier League relegation zone, their longest stay in the top-flight bottom three since September and October 1986.

That 1986 spell lasted 28 days. It ended a chapter of the club’s history: Ron Atkinson was sacked that November and Sir Alex Ferguson took charge at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick‘s side dropped into the bottom three on Saturday without kicking a ball. Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 3-1, which was City’s third straight league defeat, and that result pushed United down the table.

It was the first time since November 1986 that United had ended a day in the top-flight relegation places after playing at least nine games. On that occasion they sat 21st after 15 matches.

United missed the chance to escape the bottom three on Sunday, after a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford. The Red Devils required two stoppage-time goals to rescue a point, though their winless league run extended to eight games. They sit 18th in the table, a point behind Coventry City and Forest.

One league win since August

The numbers behind the slump make for grim reading. United’s only Premier League victory this season was a 5-2 home win over promoted Ipswich Town on August 30, and this is already the club’s worst-ever start to aPremier League campaign.

Despite the despair and disjoint of recent performances, few would confidently predict relegation for Manchester United at this stage. But the Premier League is a cruel mistress, and it’s competitive depth has pushed established giants towards its trap door in recent seasons.

West Ham were relegated last season just three seasons after a European trophy success, while Spurs have slumped to consecutive 17th-place finishes. Last season, the North Londoners needed a final-day win to prevent a first relegation since 1977.

United’s most recent relegation came three years earlier, when Tommy Doherty’s team dropped out the top division. United had 11 points (adjusted to three points for a win) at the same stage of that campaign.

The pressure on Carrick has continued to grow in recent weeks. Tuesday’s dramatic 3-2 Champions League comeback against AS Roma eased it slightly, but Carrick’s future remains in doubt. The international break is likely to see the club’s ownership mull change.

Speaking on Friday, the former United midfielder insisted the Roma result had lifted the mood without turning heads.

“Obviously it’s a positive reaction,” Carrick said. “Again, it’s not like all of a sudden we’re getting carried away.

“I have seen enough from the players. I know what we’re capable of. I’ve said it enough. I know exactly what we’re capable of, and we all do. You’ve seen it from different perspective. You know what we’re capable as a team, as a team. We’ve proved it over time.

“We’ve just not proved it enough lately, but we know it’s there. The boys have trained really well. I’m not just saying that for the sake of saying it. If we weren’t, I’d say it.”