Manchester United fell to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United at Old Trafford on Monday night, a first league defeat against the Yorkshire club on home soil since 1981
Michael Carrick is interim Manchester United manager until the end of the season
Michael Carrick is interim Manchester United manager until the end of the season
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Due diligence has not been one of Manchester United's strengths in recent times. And it's one of the main reasons the club has been through such a shambolic period of failure. Wrong appointments and signings have haunted United more than the shadow of former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has.
Like rushing through the appointment of Ruben Amorim, even though he wanted to take charge at the end of last season, rather than in the middle of it.
Like handing the reins to Erik ten Hag, despite the fact it was clear the job was too demanding for him.
Like re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo on the biggest contract in top flight history, just because it satisfied a vanity project at that time. Or deciding to spend the thick end of £50m on Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint Germain. If there is a midfielder more incapable of representing United at the highest level, please point him out?
Which brings us to the sensitive subject of Michael Carrick. No-one appreciates more than him how life at Old Trafford can feel like it is never too far from turning into a crisis. There is fickle. Then there is United.
So the knives are out for him, in the wake of his side's humbling home defeat to Leeds United. With blissful ignorance to the fact Carrick has lost just two games from 11 since taking charge on an interim basis.
A run which has included wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, and led United to third in the table and in pole position to secure Champions League qualification. But one defeat to the bitterest of enemies airbrushes all of the above from recent history, in the heads of some critics.
Yet this doesn't matter. What counts is what co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers think.
And what these blokes should be thinking is that United should never take the easy option when it comes to making the biggest decision of all.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
It was a tough night for Michael Carrick as United lost to Leeds(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
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Carrick has done more than enough to deserve to be in the conversation about who the next permanent manager should be. You cannot repair the damage he inherited in a matter of months. And he hasn't even had a full transfer window yet.
But the success Carrick has engineered shouldn't stop United from leaving no stone unturned when it comes to deciding who is best suited and qualified to take on one of the toughest gigs in world football. All avenues should be explored. All potential candidates should be at least spoken to.
Because Carrick still has managerial limitations at this level. He made mistakes against Leeds, like picking Ugarte, failing to make changes sooner and going with Benjamin Sesko instead of Bryan Mbeumo in attack. And he paid the price.
But Carrick will learn from the experience. The question now is, will those who run the club break with tradition and learn from their own mistakes from recent years?
Patience is the key. United must wait until the end of the season to see what Carrick has achieved, and who else might be available. Then trust themselves to make the right choice.
It's the bare minimum supporters deserve.
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