Michael Carrick has been urged to make a significant change at Manchester United so his flops are “more fearful” of keeping their places in his starting line-up. The under pressure boss is in desperate need of a win against Como in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
United have won just one of their seven Premier League fixtures so far this campaign, against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, leaving them slumped in 13th. They were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton last month and, ahead of the visit of the Serie A side, have only tasted success in Europe versus Azerbaijan minnows Sabah. United’s current winless run of six games has led to speculation that Carrick is fighting to save his job as manager.
Club legend Lee Sharpe, who lifted three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during his time at the club under the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, spoke exclusively to Daily Star Sport about the advice he would give to Carrick to try and turn around the Red Devils’ dismal start to the season.
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Carrick, 45, is currently supported by assistant manager Steve Holland, along with first team coaches Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion and Craig Mawson.
However, Sharpe, 55, believes the “laid back” ex-United and England midfielder may need a different voice alongside him in the dugout at Old Trafford.
Speaking courtesy of New Betting Sites, the former Red Devils winger said: “Advice to Michael Carrick? Oh my word. I think the main issue has been work rate and the pace of the game.
“Character-wise, Michael Carrick is very laid-back, very chilled out. He played the game that way. He was always two steps ahead, so didn’t really need to ever be hurried or rushed into a decision.
“Maybe it needs someone a little bit more frantic next to him that can get them [the players] a little bit more intimidated, so they’re a little bit more fearful, keeping people in their seats and on their toes, a bit more fearful of the position in the team.”
Analysing their performances so far, Sharpe added: “The bottom line is you work your socks off, and you cover the ground and put the effort in, and I think they’ve just played the games too slowly.
“I think he [Carrick] allows teams to defend well and get organised; everything is so organised these days.
“If you’re trying to play on the counter-attack, you’ve got to play quick, and I don’t think at the moment we’re playing quick enough.”