Manchester United are on a roll under interim boss Michael Carrick, with club bosses planning to name a permanent manager in the summer
Michael Carrick has made an impressive start to life at Manchester United
Michael Carrick has made an impressive start to life at Manchester United(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Manchester United bosses have been told to make Roberto De Zerbi their next permanent manager and ignore the growing clamour for Michael Carrick.
Former midfield star Carrick has taken charge on an interim basis following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier this month. And he has made quite the impression at Old Trafford, engineering shock wins over title favourites Manchester City and Arsenal. Victory over Fulham on Sunday will make it three straight wins, a feat Amorim managed only once during his 47 Premier League matches.
Carrick, assisted by ex-England No.2 Steve Holland, as well as Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans, will remain in charge until the end of the season, when United's owners will make a permanent appointment. If Carrick continues to impress, he will be added to a shortlist which includes the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, England boss Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino.
But former Chelsea, France and AC Milan hero Marcel Desailly, a World Cup winner with Les Bleus, believes current Marseille boss De Zerbi should be a contender.
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"Roberto De Zerbi could be a good fit for Manchester United," said Desailly, speaking to Card Player. "I've watched him closely at Marseille and he is willing to change formations, such as starting with three, four or five defenders depending on the opposition.
"He's a coach who doesn't have a defined philosophy and will adapt his team and style from game to game. I would be having nightmares if I was in the United boardroom right now, having to decide which manager to appoint in the summer!
"It's such a tough decision and you have to get it right. De Zerbi has a strong tactical profile, but they may want someone much calmer like Michael Carrick.
Roberto De Zerbi is impressing at Marseille
Roberto De Zerbi is impressing at Marseille(Image: Franco Arland/Getty Images)
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"The club have tried everything in the past few years, and they thought they had an appointed the right man in Ruben Amorim.
"He was perceived to be very intelligent and confident in what he wanted to implement at the club but in the end, things didn't work out and the club decided to move on."
Certainly Carrick, as the man in situ, is doing everything he can to prove that he is the right choice for the long-term. Publicly however, he's refusing to get carried away.
"I am here to do a job," he told Sky after the Arsenal win. "When I came here less than two weeks ago, I said we would make every decision for the bigger picture.
"We are not getting carried away. It is two huge results, but we will keep our feet on the ground. I am enjoying it and I will continue to do what I can."