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Man Utd Change Course Again

B1 · Intermediate48 minIn the NewsAdded 13 November 2026Lesson 21 of 21 · Free

Aims

Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick and are trying to bring Mauricio Pochettino in as their next manager.

The lesson, stage by stage

  1. News10 min

    In the news: The story

    Read a 108-word news story: Carrick Out, Pochettino in United’s Sights

    Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick after a difficult start to the season. Carrick first joined as interim coach and later earned a permanent role after a strong run of results. The club had hoped his appointment would bring stability after several changes of manager. But after a run of poor results, leaders said they had not seen enough progress, especially in the team’s structure and defending. United are now pursuing Mauricio Pochettino, who currently coaches the United States team. The club has found a release clause in his contract, but he has games with the US team first, so the timing may add pressure to United’s plans.

  2. Vocabulary8 min

    Vocabulary: Words in the news

    6 items

  3. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Choices on the touchline

    2 discussion questions

    • What qualities would you want in a coach leading a team through a difficult season?
    • How much time should a club give a new manager to show progress?
  4. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: When plans change

    2 discussion questions

    • Have you ever had to adapt when a plan changed suddenly? What helped you deal with it?
    • Would you prefer a temporary leader or a permanent one during a period of change? Why?
  5. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: The bigger picture

    2 discussion questions

    • What do you think makes a team successful over several seasons, beyond choosing a good coach?
    • Should a club make a quick change when results are poor, or wait longer? What might shape that decision?

Target vocabulary

In a Tuton account these words become your student's vocabulary deck, so they come back in practice between lessons.

interim
Temporary, until a permanent person takes the role
stability
A steady situation that does not change often
progress
Improvement or movement towards a goal
structure
The way parts of a team are organised
release clause
A contract term that allows someone to leave for a set fee
pressure
A difficult feeling caused by high expectations or demands

This plan comes from the Sport course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.