Michael Carrick looks to have inched ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the race to become Man Utd’s interim manager, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s verdict is already there for the fans.
Man Utd swerved many with their choice of Michael Carrick as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked like the clear favourite, with Carrick a distant second.
However, now that Carrick is the leading candidate and inching closer to a Man Utd return, there’s curiosity about what he could achieve.
Cristiano Ronaldo, (in)famous for saying some brutal truths about United, has already delivered his verdict on Carrick as manager.
Michael Carrick is the new favourite for the Man Utd interim job, are you happy with this?
Manchester United Coach Michael Carrick celebrates at the end of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 2, 2021
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates with coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Manchester United at the Estadio de la Ceramica on November 23, 2021
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo’s verdict on Michael Carrick
If Ronaldo says something about Man Utd, fans can be pretty confident knowing that he really feels it, regardless of whether it’s good or bad.
Therefore, his verdict on Carrick speaks volumes about the type of manager United are about to hand the reins to.
Ronaldo played three games under Carrick’s management when he succeeded Solskjaer in the 2021/22 season, before Ralf Rangnick came in.
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Much like this time, Carrick faced a trial by fire, with his games being against Arsenal, Chelsea, and a UCL game against Villarreal.
Carrick beat Arsenal and Villarreal and drew at Chelsea, with Ronaldo playing a crucial role in every game.
When Carrick left to pursue his own managerial career, Ronaldo posted a classy message for the departing United legend.
He said on his X, then known as Twitter, “Michael Carrick was a class act as a player, and he can become a great coach as well. Nothing is impossible for this guy. Personally, I’m proud to have played with him by my side as well as with him as a manager on our bench.”
Carrick will have to repeat his Man Utd heroics
It’s an extremely short-term view but Man Utd could be hoping that Carrick does exactly what he has at every club in his managerial career so far.
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At United, he got just three games, all tough ones, but came away with two wins and a draw.
At Middlesbrough, he took over a team firmly in the relegation battle, but ended the season in fourth place and qualified for the playoffs.
Carrick has a reputation for making an immediate impact as soon as he takes charge of a club, but he can be guilty of reaching the ceiling too quickly before a regression follows.
That won’t be a problem at United because he’ll be here for just six months, so if he can repeat his heroics of getting this team flying out of the blocks, he will have done his job and then some.
Cristiano Ronaldo certainly believes he can do it.
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