Gary Neville thinks Manchester United may have a chance to win the league soon (Image: overlap)
Gary Neville says Manchester United should cast a wider net than Michael Carrick in their search for a permanent head coach, given the current state of affairs at the top of the Premier League. The former Red Devils defender believes his former club have a “real chance” of winning the title within the next few seasons, given that England’s other elite sides have their own concerns to address.
Carrick is seen as a strong candidate to remain as permanent manager after winning nine of his 13 games in charge and leading the club to the brink of Champions League qualification, but United are expected to consider all available options before taking over.
Carrick was previously part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching system at Old Trafford, with the 44-year-old’s only managerial experience coming at Middlesbrough in the Championship.
Others believe that Carrick is the frontrunner for the permanent manager role after helping save Manchester United, but Neville has questioned whether Carrick is the right person to take advantage of the current Premier League situation, arguing that a “world-class” manager should be appointed given the current position of the club’s rivals.
On whether United have a real chance now in the Overlap Fans debate presented by Sky Bet, Neville said: “If he takes another year to lay the foundations – good philosophy, good culture, the club is happy again and 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 aren’t great. They’re better than United, but Liverpool are just a bit shaky. Chelsea are just not good at all.”
“Tottenham are in great form and if Manchester City are found guilty of more serious charges they will have a real chance of winning the league in the next year or two.
Michael Carrick is currently Manchester’s favorite. (Image: Getty)
“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.”
“Four months ago, before Ole, Ruud and Michael were interviewed for this role, I said adamantly: No matter what happens, don’t appoint any of them at the end of the season.
“Bring in one person now, stabilize the club and then bring in a world-class person with a great coaching pedigree. That’s where I was three or four months ago. Why would I change now just because of results?”
Neville’s former United team-mate Paul Scholes also appears to have doubts about handing Carrick the permanent head coaching job after the summer.
He pointed out that Carrick has yet to live up to the demands of European football and that the success he is currently achieving means whoever takes charge will have a much tougher job next season.
Asked whether Carrick should be given the role 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 from Saturday to Wednesday and playing in three cup competitions. That’s a big problem for him in terms of getting a job next year and he should probably seriously ask himself if that’s what he wants.”
“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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