Michael Carrick has made a fine start to life as Manchester United’s interim manager, but doubts have been raised over whether he is the right man for the job
Manchester United are gearing up for another crucial fixture under Michael Carrick.
United have triumphed in six of the interim boss’s seven matches at the helm and will be hoping to prolong their unbeaten run as they head to Newcastle United on Wednesday. United’s remarkable form since the former United and England midfielder assumed control has seen the club surge into Champions League contention in the Premier League.
Their transformation under the 44-year-old has also sparked discussions about whether the former midfielder should be handed the role permanently in the summer when the transfer window opens and a rebuild of the Red Devils squad commences. Here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
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Michael Carrick reaction to job offer
Carrick was en route to a family gathering when he discovered he would become United’s new interim manager, reports the Mirror.
While he would have been thrilled by the job opportunity, his response was reportedly low-key as he opted not to make a scene.
Close mate Chris Hook attended the gathering and remembered how the United manager appeared during the occasion. “It doesn’t shock me, but nothing was mentioned,” Hook revealed to BBC Sport.
“Not one of us knew even though it was bandied around and there were plenty of people around him who were thinking: ‘Will it be him?’ But Michael was there for his family and to see his friends. He was there to make the most of that precious time.”
Paul Scholes raises doubts
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United fans will be savouring the team’s latest upturn, but club icon Paul Scholes remains unconvinced that his former colleague represents the ideal choice for the position.
The legendary midfielder emphasises that the squad haven’t encountered setbacks during Carrick’s brief tenure and their present form might quickly shift.
“This is a very short period of time. Man United could lose next week and it would be a disaster, and everyone changes their opinion,” Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast.
“He could get the job and then lose the first three games of next season.”
Scholes referenced the considerably more seasoned Carlo Ancelotti as representing a superior option. “You have to have a manager you think you can have [win] the league with,” he said.
“I know [Ancelotti’s] coach of Brazil, he’s that perfect one, where you think he’ll make players feel an absolute million dollars and he’s got experience winning stuff.”