Michael Carrick is expected to be named Manchester United's interim manager until the end of the season, with the 44-year-old previously showing he's not afraid to make tough decisions on star players
Bruno Fernandes after a Manchester United game
Bruno Fernandes was benched by Michael Carrick during his last spell as Manchester United interim boss(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
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Michael Carrick is set to take the reins at Manchester United, at least until the end of the season. Judging by his previous tenure, the incoming Red boss won't shy away from making tough calls.
United have been on the hunt for a new manager since Ruben Amorim's departure last week following a draw with Leeds United in the Premier League.
In the interim, Darren Fletcher has stepped up, overseeing a draw with Burnley in the Premier League and a defeat to Brighton in the third round of the FA Cup over the weekend.
Carrick is now tipped to take on the United job on a temporary basis until the season's end, beating fellow club icon Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the position.
An agreement has been struck between United and Carrick, with the former Middlesbrough boss seen arriving at the club's Carrington training base on Tuesday ahead of an official announcement, reports the Mirror.
This will mark Carrick's second stint as interim manager at United, having previously filled the role following Solskjaer's exit and prior to Ralf Rangnick's appointment in November 2021.
A report in The Times offers insight into Carrick's previous spell at United, suggesting that the incoming Red Devils boss won't hesitate to make some hard decisions.
Carrick took the reins for a Champions League match against Villarreal in his first stint in charge back in 2021, during which he controversially benched Bruno Fernandes due to the Portuguese international's run of form at the time.
The 44-year-old's previous tenure at United saw him manage three matches in total, including Premier League fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as the aforementioned Villarreal clash.
During this period, Carrick granted only one substitute appearance to Juan Mata, who is reportedly a close friend of the incoming United boss from their playing days at Old Trafford.
If Carrick is appointed imminently, as anticipated, his first match at the helm would be this Saturday's Manchester derby against rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.
With United having been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, their focus will now solely be on the Premier League for the remainder of the term.
Following the weekend defeat to Brighton, United will have played just 40 matches across all competitions this season, marking the club's lowest number of games in a single campaign since the 1914-15 season.
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