Michael Carrick was impressed when Manchester United interim head coach and Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently asked him about his future
Sir Jim Ratcliffe delivers new verdict on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick (Image: Sky Sports)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe insisted Michael Carrick is doing a great job at Manchester United, but refused to comment on whether he would give him a permanent job. The 44-year-old was appointed interim head coach until the end of the season earlier this year following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.
Carrick has overseen six wins from a possible eight so far, but questions have since emerged over his long-term future at Old Trafford. The latest was entrusted to co-owner Ratcliffe, who is in Shanghai with Mercedes for the Chinese Grand Prix, and he had a clear message to convey.
“He’s doing a great job,” he told Sky Sports in an impromptu interview after qualifying. Asked if this result would keep him in the job permanently, he replied with a smile: “I’m not going there.”
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As for qualifying for next season’s Champions League, he added: “Obviously we are thinking about it, but there are still seven or eight games left.” As Ratcliffe rightly highlighted, there is still plenty of room to fight for points, but United feel they are in a great position.
Manchester City and Arsenal are currently the only teams above United in the league, level with weekend opponents Aston Villa on 51 points. Unai Emery’s side were comfortably in third place, but poor form meant they had to drop down the table ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.
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Carrick has been fortunate to be able to take charge of the full team in most games, but there have been growing concerns about his fitness of late.
Lisandro Martinez, Patrick Dorg and Matthijs de Ligt are currently sidelined, but Carrick confirmed Mason Mount is close to returning.
He said on Friday: “Mason is back in the group, which is great. He’s not 100 per cent, he’s only trained with us for a short time, but he’s back and that’s good for us. So we’ll see if he gets involved.”
Mason Mount returns to Manchester United training
Villa have also received a big injury boost, with club captain John McGinn returning to action for the first time in two months in the Europa League last-16 first leg win at Lille.
A win over another European rival would only increase the chances of Carrick remaining at the club next season, with former player Michael Owen believing he should be appointed.
Speaking on the latest edition of the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, he said: “I can’t believe people are questioning whether he should get the job. Manchester United have been waiting about 12 years. They’ve been looking for a proven legend, everything since Sir Alex[Ferguson].”
“And when they start playing well and getting results, the fans are buying into that. They’re saying that if he gets third (place) at the end of the season, they’re going to say, ‘Thank you, but no thanks.’ How is that possible?”
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