- Manchester United face Liverpool today (May 3)
- Dimitar Berbatov hails Michael Carrick’s impact
- Bulgarian hero feels Champions League qualification is ‘great’
Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has given a glowing verdict of Michael Carrick and called the likely Champions League qualification a ‘great achievement.’ The Red Devils host their arch rivals, Liverpool, at Old Trafford today (May 3rd).
All that is required is a point against the Merseysiders and that will grant United a return to Europe’s elite club competition. It may also make Carrick’s potential appointment as permanent head coach undeniable.
Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January and has overseen a resurgence at the Theatre of Dreams. His side has won nine and lost two of its 13 games in charge.
‘Fully Deserved’ – Berbatov on Carrick’s Man Utd
Berbatov assessed United’s situation heading into the game against Liverpool and had huge praise for Carrick. The Bulgarian said on StarHub TV+:
“Unbelievable, it’s amazing. Fully deserved for what he’s getting right now and I think they will qualify for the Champions League and that’s a great achievement considering how the season started, managing changing.”
He added:
“Now he (Carrick) is in charge with his staff and the players are playing good football, scoring goals, they are enjoying themselves and you can see it in the way they are playing.”
Carrick remains the frontrunner to become United’s next permanent head coach. He has constantly spoken of his desire to help the club, and it seems likely that INEOS will make him the man to lead the team in the long term.
Why Berbatov’s Opinion Matters
Berbatov played under Sir Alex Ferguson during United’s dominant era in the Premier League. He knows the club extremely well and unlike some pundits who have hidden agendas, he wants what’s best for the Red Devils.
The legendary Bulgarian striker also played alongside Carrick and knows how he operates, certainly from a mindset perspective. Hearing him champion his former teammate’s tenure thus far will excite fans.
It’s important not to get too ahead of ourselves, though, as a decision has still to be made regarding the managerial vacancy. INEOS could very well decide that Carrick doesn’t have the resume or the experience to be in charge permanently.
