Michael Carrick has received support from a former Manchester United star regarding taking over as head coach permanently. The English tactician returned to the Old Trafford dugout for a second time when he replaced Ruben Amorim in early January.
The tide has well and truly turned under Carrick as he has overseen a six-game unbeaten run. That includes wins over Manchester City (2-0) and Arsenal (3-2), and he has put himself in contention to be handed the job full-time.
INEOS will continue due diligence on who will take charge of the Reds long-term, and that decision will come after the season concludes. Carrick continues to earn the backing of many in the game, including those no longer associated with the club.
Wan-Bissaka backs Carrick
Former United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the latest to talk up Carrick and his suitability for the Old Trafford hotseat. He played under the Red Devils’ interim coach during his first temporary spell in charge back in the 2021-22 campaign.
Wan-Bissaka told Mail Sport that he won over the players during that period:
“He’s someone you can trust. He will also trust you back if you buy into him and what he’s looking to do. If you trust him, he will trust you. He was quite simple in what he wanted from you. The boys were happy with him and the games he had when he was the manager.”
Wan-Bissaka came up against his former club when the Reds visited the London Stadium earlier this month. His West Ham United side held Carrick’s men to a 1-1 draw in the toughest game of his tenure thus far.
The 28-year-old, who made 190 appearances for the Red Devils, made his thoughts clear:
“With him back at the club now, they are in a good place as a team. I think he should be given the full-time role. I think he deserves it.”
Carrick recently hinted that he wants to stay on permanently once his interim coaching role ends. His affection for the club stems back to his playing days when he was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden era at Old Trafford.
The 44-year-old started his managerial career with United, taking on a caretaker role following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking in November 2021. He is unbeaten across both of his tenures and
Carrick deserves it on one condition
There’s no doubt the mood at Carrington has lifted since Carrick and his coaching staff arrived in January. Amorim’s time in charge was a tense period for the club, which saw the Reds hit rock bottom.
A 15th-placed finish in the league and the Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur were disasters. INEOS opted to continue with the Portuguese coach, but it took him calling out the club’s structure and interference from Jason Wilcox for them to decide enough was enough.
Carrick walked into an absolute mess and needed no time whatsoever to clean it up. He went back to basics, intent on playing the United way, trusting Kobbie Mainoo and taking risks, which helped his side beat Arsenal at the Emirates.
The only reason INEOS should be wary of appointing Carrick permanently is if he now fails to achieve Champions League qualification. His Reds are in control of their destiny, and falling short in such a promising position would be a concern.
