Manchester United stand to wait for Julian Nagelsmann if Michael Carrick is slighted | Soccer | Sports

Michael Carrick is now firmly in the running to become Manchester United’s permanent head coach after building on his brilliant run of form with Monday night’s win over Brentford. Julian Nagelsmann has been praised, but United are leaning towards Carrick, who has been in charge with nine wins from 13 games since replacing Ruben Amorim in January. United’s success looks set to earn him a long-term deal at Old Trafford.

United can secure a return to the Champions League if they beat Liverpool at Old Trafford this weekend, or before that if Brighton fail to beat Newcastle on Saturday and Bournemouth fall just short of Crystal Palace on Sunday. Carrick took over the team, which was languishing in seventh place after Amorim was sacked following a falling out with director of football Jason Wilcox. Qualifying for Europe remained the club’s ambition in January, but a dramatic turn in fortunes meant that a return to the Champions League soon became their primary goal.

An astonishing 29 points from a potential 36 points has lifted United into third place and Carrick has the hearty backing of players keen to stay in the post.

Carrick was handed a contract until the end of the season when he took over in January, and United insisted the search for Amorim’s permanent successor was a thorough and considered process.

There were influential people involved who were keen on an elite-level manager to take over this summer, someone with the authority and standing to take charge of United, and a track record to match, but as possibilities in that regard faded, Carrick’s own qualifications to secure the position grew stronger.

Thomas Tuchel has opted to sign a new contract with the Football Association, Luis Enrique is ready to commit his future to Paris Saint-Germain and Carlo Ancelotti is as well with the Brazil international. Nagelsmann has been linked with Old Trafford, with his friendship with recruitment director Christopher Vivell highlighted.

However, United’s pursuit of Nagelsmann appears to have been exaggerated, with the club understood to be unwilling to wait to sign a manager who will play in this summer’s World Cup. As a result, the German national team coach has decided to resign, and his contract with the German Football Federation (DFB) has two years remaining.

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner have emerged as Carrick’s main competition, with both of them leaving their respective positions at the end of the season.

But neither has the stature of the big names being considered for the role, and there is a belief within the club that Carrick has proven over the past three-and-a-half months that he has what it takes to handle the pressure cooker at Old Trafford.

Carrick proves to be a calm presence behind the scenes, serving as the ideal balance to the more passionate and intense Amorim. The attitude with which he carried out his role and the effort he put in with the coaching staff on the training ground duly impressed the club’s higher-ups.

With Champions League qualification firmly within reach, Carrick looks set to be given the opportunity to take on the role full-time. No concrete timetable has been set for a final decision, but United are unlikely to let the uncertainty linger beyond the end of the current campaign.