Michael Carrick’s appointment as Manchester United coach looked like a good decision on paper. Bringing in a club legend who knows the pressure that comes with wearing the shirt was a must to calm the storm.
The Englishman also had prior experience coaching the team on a caretaker basis in late 2021. He took charge of Middlesbrough in the Championship but couldn’t drag them over the line and secure promotion.
A positive environment and improved performances were all the Reds hoped Carrick and his backroom team would bring. Nobody envisioned the unbeaten run that has helped propel his troops to a top-four race.
In fact, if United beat Crystal Palace at Old Trafford today (March 1st), they will displace Aston Villa in third. With just 10 games remaining and no midweek football, a return to the Champions League is well and truly on the cards.
Carrick isn’t getting carried away despite the widespread calls for him to stay on. He has guided United to five wins and one draw in six games.
Neville: Carrick in the box seat
There is growing support for the 44-year-old to be handed the job permanently at the end of the season. He is emerging as the frontrunner to indeed become the full-time head coach at the Theatre of Dreams.
Gary Neville has consistently advised INEOS to continue a proper search for a suitable long-term Amorim replacement. But he is well aware of the impact Carrick has made and feels it will have come as a surprise to his former teammate.
The former United captain said on Sky Sports:
“I am surprised at where Michael Carrick has taken them from, from what we were seeing around Christmas time. I think the performance levels in those first two matches against Arsenal and City were incredible. I didn’t expect that at all. I don’t think anybody would have expected that. I think the run they’ve gone on has been a shock to everybody, including probably Michael. Michael wouldn’t have expected this in his wildest dreams.”
Carrick speaks extremely well in press conferences and interviews when asked about the possibility of staying on. He wants to focus on finishing the season successfully and leading the Red Devils back to the Champions League.
Neville spoke about Carrick’s character and what is required of him for the remainder of the campaign:
“He was always intelligent, Michael, always a good personality and character, good composure and temperament. What he’s got to do now is keep it going until the end of the season, and I think today’s a big part of that. These games are the ones that can trip you up. I think Michael is in the box seat for the job. I think they will qualify for the Champions League, and he won’t get carried away, though week to week.”
Carrick is still unbeaten as a United coach over both spells in the Old Trafford dugout. He made an immediate impact, overseeing a 2-0 win over Manchester City and a 3-2 victory against Arsenal.
Man United stars want Carrick
Carrick has won over his Manchester United players, building a strong rapport. They are firmly backing him to continue as their boss.
According to SunSport, his troops want him to be handed a long-term deal. They are said to be “really impressed in his knowledge of the game.”
The majority of his squad would be happy for Carrick to land the job permanently, and that’s an opinion shared by most of the Old Trafford faithful. The managerial market isn’t great, especially after Thomas Tuchel extended his contract with England.
Luis Enrique has insisted he is staying at Paris Saint-Germain, while Carlo Ancelotti has penned a new deal with Brazil. Other candidates include Oliver Glasner, whose Palace side have nosedived this season, and Roberto De Zerbi, who left Marseille after a similar clash with the owners as Amorim at United.
Carrick seems an ideal fit for the structure that INEOS have put in place. He is excellent at working with youth, as evidenced by his trust in Kobbie Mainoo, and he spent years playing under Sir Alex Ferguson.
