Michael Carrick is in a good position when it comes to Manchester United’s search for a permanent head coach, but it remains to be seen whether he will take up the full-time head coaching job.
Michael Carrick is one of Manchester United’s top candidates (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Gary Neville has suggested that Manchester United should look beyond Michael Carrick in their search for a new head coach given their current position at the top of the Premier League.
The former Red Devils defender believes his former club have a “real chance” of winning titles in the coming years, as England’s other elite clubs also have their own issues to deal with.
Carrick is seen as a strong candidate to remain as head coach on a long-term deal after leading the club to the brink of a return to the Champions League with nine wins from 13 games, but United are expected to consider all options before appointing him.
Carrick was previously part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching team at Old Trafford, and the 44-year-old’s only managerial experience was in the Championship with Middlesbrough.
And while some believe Carrick is the long-term favorite for the job after helping Manchester United rebuild their season, Neville has questioned whether Carrick is the right person to take advantage of the current Premier League situation, given the current situation in which some of the club’s rivals are, and has insisted that a “world-class” coach be appointed.
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On whether United have a chance now, Neville said in the Overlap Fan Debate presented by Sky Bet: “If he takes another year to lay the groundwork – good philosophy, good culture, the club is happy again, the staff trust him because everyone trusts and loves Michael Carrick – then they could make bigger appointments. That could be applied.”
“But there’s a part of me that thinks Arsenal are less than great. Arsenal are better than United, but Liverpool are just a bit shaky. Chelsea are all over the place, Tottenham are all over the place. If Manchester City are found guilty of the more serious charges, they have a real chance of winning the league in the next year or two.”
“There’s not a whole lot going on there right now. The situation at the top is as poor as it’s been for some time. Who’s the best person to try to take advantage of that potential opportunity? And is Michael the right person for it or someone else? That’s the confusion I have.”
Gary Neville and Paul Scholes discussed the possibility of Carrick taking the job.
“Four months ago, before Ole, Ruud and Mikael were interviewed for the role, I was adamant. Whatever happens, I don’t want any of them appointed at the end of the season. Bring in one now to stabilize the club and then bring in a world-class guy with a great coaching pedigree. That was me three or four months ago. Why change now just for results?”
Neville’s former United team-mate Paul Scholes also appears reluctant to hand Carrick the head coaching role beyond the summer.
He pointed out that Carrick does not have to compete with European football and that the fruits of his labor will make next year’s job even tougher for the player in the spotlight.
Manchester United have been on fire since Carrick’s arrival (Image: Getty)
On whether Carrick should get the job permanently, Scholes said: “I don’t know. It’s not easy, is it? From what’s going on now, just playing Premier League games, to the start of next season it’s a completely different challenge. All of a sudden you’re playing Saturday to Wednesday and playing three cup games. That’s a big question for him to get the job next year and he might have to seriously ask himself if he wants that.”
“They have to get players too. If they can get (them) into Champions League football, I think we can move forward.”
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