Villarreal vs Manchester United LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight

Michael Carrick’s first game in charge sees United advance to the UCL knockout stages

Who will be Manchester United's new manager?

Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of Manchester United saw the caretaker boss lead the club into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, his players securing a 2-0 win at Villarreal.

Former United midfielder Carrick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout following the Norwegian’s sacking on Sunday, and the team’s performance here was similar to many showings under their now-ex-coach; United were disjointed for much of the game, before Cristiano Ronaldo did what he has done so many times this season by scoring late on to break the deadlock. Jadon Sancho then netted his first goal in a United shirt in the final minute, sealing the victory and securing the Red Devils a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.

It is unclear how long Carrick will be in charge of United, with reports suggesting that the club’s hierarchy could appoint a different interim coach until the end of the season before seeking a permanent successor to Solskjaer. Mauricio Pochettino has been linked to United, with our own Melissa Reddy reporting that the PSG boss could leave his current side to move to Old Trafford before next summer. However, Pochettino insisted on Tuesday evening that he is “so happy” in Paris. Follow all the fallout from United’s win against Villarreal.

Villarreal vs Manchester United

• Carrick in charge after Solskjaer sacking
• 78 mins: Ronaldo pounces on hosts’ error to open scoring
• 90 mins: Sancho nets his first goal for United to seal win
• United qualify for last 16 with victory

[23 November 2021 16:43 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: Continuity caretaker Michael Carrick takes charge of club in need of sweeping change

A new broom sweeps clean but it is not yet clear whether that will be the case for Manchester United’s caretaker manager, if that is indeed what we’re calling him.

Michael Carrick is the interim appointment before the interim appointment before the eventual appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor at the end of the season. One of the biggest clubs in world football could conceivably be led by four different managers – Solskjaer included – in the space of six months. And that’s if this all goes to plan.

It is easy to mock this unorthodox approach to appointing a manager or three, not least because it reveals how United did not have a back-up ready in case they needed to part with Solskjaer four months after awarding him a new three-year contract. But these are the circumstances the club finds itself in and, considering how it all came to this, their strategy makes a good deal of sense.

[23 November 2021 16:36 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: No Fernandes for Man U

Michael Carrick has made a bold move with his first starting XI as Manchester United caretaker boss by dropping Bruno Fernandes to the bench and giving Donny van de Beek his first start of the season.

There are three other changes from the team that lost 4-1 to Watford at the weekend with Anthony Martial replacing Marcus Rashford, Fred partnering Scott McTominay instead of Nemanja Matic and Alex Telles in for the injured Luke Shaw.

[23 November 2021 16:31 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: Line-ups

Villarreal XI: Rulli, Albiol, Pau Torres, Parejo, Capoue, Foyth, Estupinan, Trigueros, Danjuma, Pino, Moi Gomez

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Sancho, Van de Beek, Martial, Ronaldo

[23 November 2021 16:27 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: United’s next manager search

Mauricio Pochettino is ready to leave PSG for Manchester United job before the summer as he does not want to miss another opportunity to join the English club.

Manchester United can appoint Mauricio Pochettino now if they act decisively, with the Paris Saint-Germain manager open to a move to Old Trafford that has been three years in the making.

He was initially prepared to succeed Jose Mourinho at the club before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s caretaker spell was made permanent and had talks with the hierarchy last October over replacing the underperforming Norwegian.

United have twice botched the opportunity to hire Pochettino, but The Independent understands that the 49-year-old does not want a third shot to be compromised by waiting until the summer.

[23 November 2021 16:24 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: Carrick’s first game in charge

Michael Carrick takes charge of Manchester United for the first time this evening after he was named as caretaker boss whilst the club look for a permanent replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Carrick spoke in the build-up about Villarreal and how this is a ‘big match for both clubs’ as well as what it is like to lead Manchester United, a role he calls ‘an honour’. Carrick said:

It’s a huge challenge and obviously one that I relish. It’s a lot more important for the club than for me but, for sure, the position I am in is a huge privilege, an honour and a huge responsibility.

“"Villarreal are a very good team. Very well organised and very well coached. They have a good mix, a good balance and we respect that.

"It’s a big game for both teams but it’s one we can really look forward to."

[23 November 2021 16:19 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: Qualification permutations

Manchester United are in a heap of trouble. They don’t have a manager, have lost their last three games and since beating Villarreal on 29th September - with a 95th minute winner from Cristiano Ronaldo - have won just two of their last eight matches.

But, that bad fortune can be turned around tonight.

United sit top of Group F, level on points with tonight’s opponents Villarreal. The Red Devils can qualify for the knockout stages of the competition this evening in one of two ways: The easiest is to simply beat Villarreal on their own turf with the other possibility slightly more complicated.

If Man Utd vs Villarreal ends in a draw and so does Atalanta vs Young Boys - the other Group F game played tonight - then United will also go through.

Defeat this evening though and their fate to qualify for the knockout stages is no longer in their hands.

[23 November 2021 16:10 · Michael Jones]

Villarreal vs Man Utd: Early team news

Michael Carrick has a few injury problems to navigate as he prepares his first Manchester United starting XI since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked at the weekend.

Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane remain out and Luke Shaw appeared to sustain another concussion injury in their match against Watford which leaves him as a doubt.

Mason Greenwood has tested positive for Covid-19 and Edinson Cavani has a tendon problem but could be fit to return.

Contrastingly, only Gerard Moreno looks set to miss out for Villarreal as he deals with a hamstring injury.

[23 November 2021 14:50 · Tom Kershaw]

Villarreal host Manchester United in Champions League

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Manchester United travel to Villarreal in the Champions League group stage.

Chaos has reigned at United in the past few days, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally sacked after the club were thrashed 4-1 at Watford on Saturday. Despite the protracted uncertainty, there appears to be no succession plan in place at the club, with Michael Carrick acting as caretaker while United seek out a permanent replacement. Mauricio Pochettino appears to be the favoured candidate, however, it remains to be seen whether he can be prised from PSG before the end of the season.

Meanwhile, United cannot afford to lose focus on a crucial European fixture. They are currently top of the group and can advance to the knockout stages with a victory tonight. Defeat, though, will leave qualification out of United’s hands heading into the final round of group games.