- Michael Carrick responds to Manchester United job talk
- English coach insists it’s ‘just natural time’
- United face Sunderland on Saturday
Michael Carrick has responded to growing speculation over him being offered the permanent Manchester United head coach role. The English manager has achieved UEFA Champions League qualification with the Reds.
A 3-2 win over Liverpool last Sunday means United will be back playing amongst Europe’s elite next season. The expectation is that Carrick will be the one in the dugout overseeing a return to European football’s elite club competition.
Carrick hasn’t just led the Red Devils to a top-five finish, which is third place as things stand. He’s instilled a winning mentality, overseeing 10 wins and two defeats in 14 games.
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Carrick: ‘Nothing has Really Changed’
A report following the Liverpool win claimed that Carrick is “expected” to be offered the United job. Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox have been impressed by his impact since replacing Ruben Amorim in January.
Carrick spoke in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s encounter with Sunderland. He said:
“Listen, clarity is important. I think moving forward, it’s come the time of, at the end of the season where, I think we’ve finished strong, put ourselves in a good position, you know, and obviously the situation of my role and what it looks like moving forward. I think it’s just the natural time. It was always spoken about towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season. So nothing has really changed, to be honest.”
He added:
“We have [secured Champions League football], but it’s a matter of days ago, and… We have our eyes on finishing the season strongly as well, you know, so I understand the question and the timing. But from my point of view, right at this stage it’s just putting the boys in a place to finish the season strongly and then, as I’ve said all along, I’m calm about it, it’ll get sorted out when it’s gonna get sorted out. It’s out of my hands, so we’ll see what happens.”
Carrick’s current contract expires at the end of the season, and he has three games left. First up is a trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday (May 9th).
United then host Nottingham Forest on May 17th before heading to the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day (May 24th). Whether INEOS decides to announce Carrick before those games, and whether he is their desired choice, remains to be seen.
