Michael Carrick has had the perfect start as Manchester United head coach, but for now, Ineos won’t be deviating from the plan of appointing a permanent manager in the summer.
When appointed, Michael Carrick will have known he faced a gauntlet of fire to begin his second head coach spell at Manchester United, but he’s passed with flying colours.
After United beat City 2-0 in the derby, it was a tougher task against Arsenal that awaited Carrick. However, United won this game 3-2, claiming six points from two games against the two best teams in the league.
Carrick is far from getting carried away, knowing he needs to do more to secure the job on a permanent basis. However, Carrick has put himself into the conversation and will rival world-class managers for the job.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic hails Carlo Ancelotti amid Manchester United links
Carrick has done an incredible job, and whether he gets it permanently or not, United fans will remember Carrick as a legend, even more so than he already was, especially with Champions League football looking likely.
However, assuming Carrick doesn’t get the permanent role, the appointment of a manager with the pedigree of United-linked Carlo Ancelotti is hard to argue against.
Carlo Ancelotti happy with arms folded
Photo by Diego Radames/Anadolu via Getty Images
Ancelotti is considered among the greats of management, and has been suggested as a manager Ineos have added to a list ahead of the summer.
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Now, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has spoken to Slaven Bilic on the Arena Sport podcast about how amazing he is as a head coach.
“Ancelotti is a manager. Old school, but he’s good,” Zlatan said.
“Like a father, a friend, everything. No one had a problem with him. If you didn’t play, you still didn’t have a problem.
“Everyone was satisfied because there were no problems. He had that feeling of wanting to be good with everyone. I asked him: ‘How do you do it?’
“We had this situation on the right wing. Two players played one match. Then the next match, half and half. ‘How do you control that?’ I asked. ‘It’s easy, Ibra,’ he said. “So what do you tell them?”
“’To one player I say he’s the best in the team, then I go to the other and say the same thing.’
“At one training session I touch him like this (poked him in the shoulder). He looks at me and says, ‘Who told you, you can touch me like that?’ I was shocked. I say: ‘Carlo?’ He says: ‘Relax. I’m joking.’
I tell him: ‘Carlo, don’t Scare me.’
“He shocked me, because that’s not him. That’s how good he was. Incredible.”
Prove me wrong… Carlo Ancelotti should be Ineos’ top option to become permanent manager this summer!
Do you think Ancelotti would be a success? Do we stand a chance of getting him?
Ancelotti graphic
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Michael Carrick will make the decision difficult for Ineos
While the plan originally was to appoint an Ancelotti or Thomas Tuchel-level manager in the summer, if Carrick sees out the season with these levels of performance, he cannot be denied.
Many assume Ineos will be too scared of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer situation repeating itself, but Carrick is a far better coach and has a backroom staff with real experience in Steve Holland.
Solskjaer being kept wasn’t even a mistake, as he was arguably the best manager the club has had since Sir Alex Ferguson in terms of performances and results anyway.
Carrick still has more to do if he is to earn it, but if he becomes the obvious choice, then Ineos have to take it.
United have had an 8th finish and 15th in the past two seasons, so we aren’t in a position to be getting rid of a coach who gets the best out of the players.
Ineos shouldn’t decide until May, but right now, Carrick would be the obvious pick.
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