Michael Carrick has surfaced as one of the most probable candidates to be the permanent manager of Manchester United after the team’s major turnaround under him when the club was without a manager due to the exit of Ruben Amorim.
Carrick, who was only a caretaker originally, has managed to keep the team stable by means of making things simpler and giving the players the roles they know best. His favored 4-2-3-1 setup has led to good overall team performance, with Bruno Fernandes being more effective again as the No.10 he is most comfortable with and Benjamin Šeško also being on form, scoring five in seven matches.
But Carrick’s influence is not only personal. Casemiro has been one of the most dominant players on the pitch at times recently, and the energy and drive of Kobbie Mainoo is making a difference after his recall to the squad.
Even though there are reports of United being keen on top-class managers such as Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino, it is Carrick’s outcomes that have set United on the right track for qualifying for the Champions League.
Granted, a few wins could be credited to luck, but the overall direction is good. With momentum on their side and stability brought back, Manchester United are at a crossroads: proceed with Carrick or bring in a new face and possibly unsettle the progress made so far.
