- Manchester United ideally wanted Luis Enrique
- PSG boss looks set to stay in Paris
- Michael Carrick in pole position
Luis Enrique doesn’t look likely to be Manchester United’s next permanent head coach, but he’s the obvious perfect candidate. The Spanish tactician is currently in charge of Paris Saint-Germain and seems set to sign a contract extension.
United are yet to make a decision over an appointment, but all the signs point to Michael Carrick being kept on. He’s done a stellar job since replacing Ruben Amorim in January, putting the team on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Carrick’s arrival has turned the tide in the dressing room as well as on the pitch. But there are still doubts over the 44-year-old, not least his ability to guide the Reds back to the top of English football.
Enrique and Guardiola’s Strange Similarities
Enrique finally ended PSG’s long wait for European glory last season when he oversaw their first-ever Champions League triumph. He did it in style, with his Parisians thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.
The former Barcelona manager replicated Pep Guardiola’s accomplishment at Manchester City. He became the first coach in the Cityzens’ history to deliver the European title back in 2023, again beating Inter in the final.
There are similarities between Enrique and Guardiola that can’t be ignored. Take for example, their coaching careers, enjoying remarkable success at Camp Nou in the early stages of their time in the dugout, guiding the Catalans to the treble.
They then headed elsewhere with Guardiola first opting to take on the Bayern Munich job. He might not have led the Bavarians to the top of European football, but he still made a massive impact on German football as a whole.
Plan For Enrique Eventually
Enrique is having a similar influence on French football while at the Parc des Princes. It feels inevitable that he will one day end up in the Premier League, and Old Trafford must be his destination.
If not now, then further down the line, once United are ready to challenge for the Premier League title and on the European front. Perhaps that’s why Carrick is the ideal man for the job because he can build a squad and an environment ready to take their place back amongst Europe’s elite.
INEOS need to be cautious with how they approach a Carrick appointment and should consider him as a short-term option with a view to long-term stability. He should be judged on his ability to steer the Reds back to their glory days, and if he can’t achieve this, then it will be time to hand over the reins to a manager of Enrique’s ilk.
When Guardiola arrived at City, he’d similarly been given a squad and a club ready to dominate. United aren’t there yet, and that’s up to Carrick, should he indeed take over on a permanent basis.
