Manchester United are ready to open talks with Michael Carrick about him continuing as head coach beyond the end of the season.
Formal discussions are expected to begin before United’s final game at Brighton on May 24.
United’s bosses have not completely ruled out the possibility of someone else taking charge for next season, and they have reached out to other possible candidates, but the club hierarchy has decided Carrick is the man they want to talk to first.
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett reveals Manchester United’s change in approach to recruitment around the club
The former Manchester United midfielder has been the frontrunner for the role for some time now, with his bosses impressed by his popularity with the playing squad, his handling of the media, his inherent understanding of the heritage and size of the football club – but also, crucially, the results he has achieved on the pitch.
In his 15 games in charge, he has won 10 and drawn three, and he has also guaranteed Champions League football for next season, and a potential £100m boost to revenue as a result of that.
So, Carrick has delivered all that was asked of him and more, and in those circumstances, it was always hard to see how United could give the job to someone else.
Nevertheless, United have been determined to hold a rigorous recruitment process rather than a coronation, and whilst there has been constant dialogue between Carrick and his bosses, formal talks over the terms of any contract have yet to begin.
But it is understood that this will happen within days, and it is thought there should not be any significant difficulty for the two sides reaching an agreement on the legal details.
Nev analyses why Carrick is in ‘pole position’ for job
Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool
Gary Neville speaking about Carrick’s future after the 3-2 win over Liverpool:
“He’s put himself in pole position with what he’s done. There are things that have emerged that will give Manchester United fans comfort that they are in safe hands.
“Manchester United need some stability. They’ve not had that for the last few years, but he will bring that in the sense that everyone trusts him.
“Fans like him, the players obviously like him. The owners will trust him. Next year, he’s got 55-60 games with the Champions League, and surely they won’t go out in the first rounds of the cup competitions. Then it’s all a different level of management and scrutiny. It’s a lot more challenging. Does he have the experience? Does he have the body of work to rely upon?
“Some people say: ‘Why don’t you give him a one-year contract and give him a further year to stabilise things further?’ I don’t think I can argue with that.
“But if a world-class manager became available who has won titles, Manchester United should probably pursue that route because the last five managers have not had that super club experience. Michael would be another who hasn’t quite got that.”
Who does Paul Merson think will finish higher between Liverpool and Manchester United next season?
Players have publicly backed Carrick for job
A host of Manchester United players have publicly backed Carrick to be given the job permanently.
Amad Diallo said earlier this month that everyone in the dressing room would be happy to see Carrick stay on as head coach next season.
“Honestly, it’s not the player who decides who is going to stay here next season, but what I can say [is] everyone is happy to have him as manager,” the United winger told Sky Sports. “Everyone is with him.
“He’s that manager who has a good relationship with every player so we are really happy to have him as manager and, yeah, we will be happy if we have him next season as manager.”
The Ivory Coast international added: “Even when you are in tough moments, he’s there to talk to you, he’s there to help you.
“The biggest change maybe is because the team is now more impactful. Like in the dressing room, we are really together.
“Every mistake is not a problem, your mistake is my mistake, so we are a team that doesn’t care if you do a mistake, you go again, so we go forward, we want to win as a team.
“That’s something that changed the team, and I think it’s also because of Michael Carrick and his staff – don’t forget also Trav [coach Travis Binnion] and the other staff.
Casemiro was appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube Channel, where he backed Michael Carrick for the Man Utd job.
“They are really important for the team, and they bring that kind of energy to the team, and that is very important.”
Kobbie Maino, who has been among those to flourish under Carrick, claimed players “want to die for” him following United’s 3-2 victory against Liverpool.
Matheus Cunha and departing Casemiro have also backed him for the job.
‘Carrick has earned the chance to manage Man Utd’
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett:
Michael Carrick has been the frontrunner for the job for some time.
They have been hugely impressed with the job he had done but crucially, it’s the results on the pitch that have convinced the Old Trafford hierarchy to open talks.
He has done all that has been asked of him and more in his short time in the dugout at United.
But I don’t think Carrick getting the job was a given, he has earned the right with the job he has done.
Manchester United have spoken to the representatives of other candidates and I expect those names to be Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Julien Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, but those candidates have somewhat fallen by the wayside.
Tuchel signed a new deal with England, Ancelotti the same with Brazil and we expect Luis Enrique to stay at PSG, so United’s options were narrowing at a time Carrick was firmly putting his hand up for thew job and showing he was the right man for the job.
Those two things combined have led to where we are today.
I expect talks to start within days, and we could get an announcement before the end of the season. It is inevitable that Carrick is Manchester United’s next permanent manager.
Is Carrick the best man for the job?
Sky Sports’ Will Bitibiri:
Whichever way INEOS will go will be a big call. On one hand you have Carrick, a club legend who has been the catalyst behind Manchester United’s revival since January.
Not only have United won big games and fans been treated to huge moments under Carrick, there’s been a nostalgic, sometimes Fergie-like feeling to it all. If United fans could choose who to be successful under, it would be Carrick. He’s the ‘Manchester United man’ but United have tried that before in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Fans felt good for the most part under the Norwegian but no tangible success followed.
The problem is whether he is the most likely to bring success back to Old Trafford. The likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique have been mooted while Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola will be available this summer.
Is the emotion attached to Carrick blinding logic? United will enter the Champions League and their form would suggest the playing squad can challenge the top two.
The permanent job at Old Trafford will come with more pressure, scrutiny and expectation. Carrick has done an admirable job so far, but there has to be a distinction between someone who knows which buttons to push in the short term and the best person to lead United back to sustained success.
Carrick might be the most ‘Manchester United man’ for the job when fans want to feel nostalgic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the best for the job.
Your views: Contrasting opinion on Carrick…
Dale: How can you not give it to Carrick? The players are all behind the manager. Bringing someone else in would upset the dressing room.
StefanL: Big mistake. Apart from the first two games, the football has been dreadful. Would put money on being in the bottom half by Christmas.
Sam D: Good decision. Utd need to keep building on what Carrick has done, and getting someone else in may just ruin that. Back him in the summer window.
Ryan: Carrick has done brilliantly, but there’s no reason for him to get the job when there’s better candidates out there. The Sunderland performance should have raised alarm bells. And by mid-January we will be looking for yet another interim manager because he will be sacked.
Keith p: I love Carrick. He’s done us all proud but is he really ready for the Champions League? Why not go all out for Luis Enrique?
Ant: It may not be an exciting choice, but it is the right choice. Must pundits though Utd would finish no higher than 8th this season. To finish top-four, Carrick has done a fantastic job.
JoshOpray: His man management is Fergie-like. The entire dressing room love him and will play for him no matter what. That’s such a huge factor in football that can’t be overlooked. Why not give him a chance!
Bob L: I hope it isnot a repeat of what happened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. One good season as interim boss, then struggle next season as permanent boss, eventually being sacked.
