Michael Carrick Faces Manchester United Setback Amid Ratcliffe Admission and Neville Revelation

Michael Carrick could be in line for a major disappointment when Manchester United decide on their permanent managerial appointment at the end of the season, despite his impressive start as interim head coach.

Carrick guided United to a 2–0 victory over 10-man Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, extending his winning run to four consecutive matches since taking charge last month. It marked the club’s first such streak since the tenure of Erik ten Hag.

The former Middlesbrough manager was appointed midway through a turbulent campaign following Ruben Amorim’s departure and has since overseen a remarkable turnaround. United have climbed to fourth place in the Premier League and are currently on course to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

High-profile victories over Manchester City and Arsenal have defined a near-perfect beginning to Carrick’s interim spell. Although the original plan was for the 44-year-old to remain in the role only until the summer, his results have prompted growing calls from supporters and pundits for him to be handed the job on a permanent basis.

However, speaking ahead of the Tottenham match, Carrick stressed that there should be no “knee-jerk” decisions regarding the managerial position. His cautious stance now appears to be supported by indications that the club’s hierarchy are still exploring alternative long-term options.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously acknowledged mistakes made during the club’s recent managerial decision-making. He notably admitted that extending Ten Hag’s contract in July 2024, following the FA Cup triumph, was an impulsive decision that ultimately proved misguided.

United now appear intent on adopting a more measured and analytical approach, which could count against Carrick’s chances of securing the role permanently, regardless of continued success between now and the end of the season.

Speaking after Ten Hag’s dismissal, Ratcliffe said: “We are not perfect, and we are on a journey and there have been a couple of errors along the way, but I think in the main all the things we are doing are the right things for the club.

“I agree the Erik ten Hag and [former sporting director] Dan Ashworth decisions were errors. I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologise for that.”

Carrick’s former United team-mate Gary Neville has since reinforced that view, revealing that the club have already begun the process of identifying their next head coach. The admission suggests that Carrick’s strong early performances have not fully altered the club’s long-term plans.

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former right-back explained that United are unwilling to rush their decision.

“I made my position clear a few weeks ago and what I’m not going to do is repeat it every week,” Neville said. “But I actually spoke to the club because they get asked all the time what the position is.

“There’s a huge movement now towards giving Carrick the job, and that’s only going to grow the more he wins and the closer he gets to Champions League football.

“I asked the club what their official position is. They said they’ve already begun the process of looking for another manager. I thought that was good to hear because you need to plan for everything.

“They’re speaking to other managers, building data, analysing who should be the next manager. But they’ve made it clear they won’t be bounced into a decision, regardless of results over the next couple of months. They’re going to wait until towards the end of the season.”

Carrick spent two and a half years managing Middlesbrough in the Championship before being dismissed last summer. Prior to that, he was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s coaching staff at Old Trafford and also enjoyed a brief caretaker spell following the Norwegian’s sacking in 2021.

Neville also questioned whether Carrick would even choose to put himself forward for the role on a permanent basis.

“If Michael then makes himself available for the job, he goes into a proper process like anyone else,” Neville added. “But I did wonder whether Michael would actually say no. He’s that type of person — someone who always works in the best interests of the football club.

“He may feel comfortable enough with the players and coaching staff to put his name in the hat, or he may decide otherwise. If he does, he’d be assessed alongside the likes of Thomas Tuchel and others who may become available in the summer. I think that’s fair.”