- Manchester United names Julian Nagelsmann as part of internal conversations
- The chances of Nagelsmann becoming the head coach
- Carrick vs Nagelsmann
Manchester United have accelerated their managerial search, intent on installing a permanent head coach ahead of the summer. Michael Carrick seems to still be leading the race, but a defeat to Leeds United has sharpened scrutiny around his credentials.
United slipped to just a second loss under Carrick, yet the 2-1 scoreline barely captured the scale of the performance. From the opening whistle, the contest tilted away from them.
After 24 days without a match, many thought United would be on it from the start, but it was Leeds that looked like they were in a Champions League fight, whilst United looked like the side fighting relegation.
From the get-go, Leeds imposed themselves on the game. They controlled the rhythm, overwhelmed the United players, and cut through United’s backline with sharp, incisive play.
There were numerous occasions when United’s midfield and back line were split open by a couple of precisely played balls, and by the 30th minute, United were already 2-0 down.
There was a flicker in resistance when Casemiro headed home for his 8th of the season—15 minutes after Lisandro Martinez had been sent his marching orders for tugging on campaign Calvert-Lewin’s hair—but it was not enough as United sank to their seventh league defeat of the season.
The club’s hierarchy has begun weighing external options more seriously, with the 2026/27 Premier League season fast approaching.
Nagelsmann ‘Part of Internal Conversations’
Ben Jacobs gave an update on United’s managerial race and he confirmed that Nagelsmann is on INEOS’ radar. He told The United Stand:
“Nagelsmann is one of the names part of the internal conversations. He is open to opportunities now, but there have been no formal talks or interviews with anyone from the United board. At the moment there have been no formal talks with either Julian Nagelsmann or anyone else , in fact, Manchetser United have not done a single interview with anyone yet, including Michael Carrick.”
He added:
“Yes, Julian Nagelsmann has been discussed internally, so loosely we can say he forms part of their thinking, but no formal contact has been made with Nagelsmann or any other candidate.”
Carrick vs Nagelsmann?
Whilst nothing will be decided until the end of the season, Carrick holds the job firmly in his hands. It is his to either win or lose.
Whilst Manchester United performed poorly against Leeds United in their most recent matchup, across the English manager’s reign thus far, they have been exceptional.
11 games, seven wins, two draws, and two losses.
In these matches, they have averaged just under 2.1 points per game; extrapolated across a 38-game season, it would equate to 79 points.
Of course, this is all just context, as Carrick has been unable to sign any players he wants, nor has he had a full season to balance the league alongside three different cup competitions.
But with United firmly rooted in third, it truly is his to lose.
Arguably the biggest fixture of United’s Champions League race arrives on Saturday, 18 April, when they face off against Chelsea, who sit just seven points behind the Red Devils.
A win against Chelsea would put them 12 points ahead of the Blues with just five games to go, almost certainly qualifying them for Europe’s premier cup competition.
Lose, however, and that lead drops to just four points, and we enter what Sir Alex Ferguson famously called ‘squeaky bum time.’
