MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Michael Carrick starts for Manchester United There is nothing more frightening than this.
First up is a fierce local derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday. Next up is an away match against league leaders Arsenal.
These are the top two in the standings for coaches with little experience at this level who have taken on roles that look increasingly impossible since taking over. Ruben Amorim last week He is the sixth coach or manager to do so since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Carrick, who won every major trophy as a United player, does not give the impression of being overwhelmed by the situation.
“I feel like I’m in a really good place to be here. It feels very natural, very normal, to be honest,” he said this week, “and I understand the job, what it entails and the responsibilities of it.”
Carrick went three games unbeaten as United’s caretaker manager in 2021, but his only experience as a long-term manager was with Middlesbrough from 2022-25.
His contract runs until the end of the season as United have time to select a candidate in a bid to end more than a decade of decline. Carrick has a chance to play in the slot with 17 games remaining this term.
City are still chasing four trophies, beating Amorim’s United 3-0 in September.
Carrick is hoping to put a smile on the faces of the fans who jeered at the final whistle when United were eliminated from the FA Cup by Brighton last week.
“I was so excited that I wanted to leave my seat,” he said. “I want to enjoy watching the players play and of course there has to be a result. I want to get into the game and see what I can do, so you can feel my enthusiasm for that.”
major matches
Tottenham v West Ham will bring together managers who are feeling the pressure to turn the result around. West Ham, who are battling relegation, are on a 10-game winless streak in the league under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Spurs manager Thomas Frank has won just one of his last six league games. This brings the team to seven wins and one win since losing to Aston Villa in the FA Cup last week.
Arsenal face another relegation candidate in Nottingham Forest.
Featured players
Conor Gallagher returns to the Premier League Joins Spurs from Atletico Madrid.
Brian Mbeumo should be available for United upon his return from the African Cup of Nations, and his strike partner Benjamin Sesko has shown his scoring prowess in recent weeks, scoring three goals in the last two games.
Activity suspended
Cole Palmer and Reece James have missed Chelsea’s remaining two games as a precaution, manager Liam Rosenior said.
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley faces a long-term absence after knee surgery, as does Tottenham midfielder Rodrygo Bentancur. underwent surgery to the right hamstring.
off the field
VAR has hit the headlines again for the wrong reasons. Man City’s Antoine Semenho’s stunning backheel goal was ruled out by VAR after Erling Haaland was deemed to have interfered in a position bordering on offside. What didn’t help was the long deliberation period that prevented Tuesday’s English League Cup semi-final in Newcastle.
This sparked further debate about offside laws and when VAR should intervene.
___
James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
