The spectre of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems to be the only thing stopping Michael Carrick from getting the permanent job, but he’s already secure in what doomed the Norwegian.
The debate about whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was even a failure is something that is another piece entirely.
Then there’s the debate that Michael Carrick is extremely different from Solskjaer anyway, as his own players have said multiple times.
Should Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim earlier this season?
Could we really have been title contenders?
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However, the final argument that puts to rest all these comparisons is two-fold, with both those factors dooming the Norwegian, but Carrick is safe.
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, talks with Luke Shaw of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was doomed by two factors at Man Utd
Considering the club has finished eighth and fifteenth in the last two league seasons, Man Utd fans would probably be delighted at Solskjaer’s second and third-place finishes.
Even if you ignore that (you shouldn’t!), then it’s worth noting that the two factors that doomed him at Old Trafford aren’t present anymore.
First is the outside factor, as he had to go up against Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp at a time when both were at the peak of their powers.
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City and Liverpool were setting point records seemingly every single season. For context, Liverpool lost just one league game all season, won 97 points, and still came second in 2018/19!
Second is the factor within the ranks, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival coincided with Solskjaer’s project going off the rails.
Since that fate, Ronaldo has proven himself to be a club-killer, as he caused upheaval at United before joining Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr on the richest contract in football history at a time when they were leading the league.
Since his arrival, they have won a single trophy, and his latest public dispute with the team is bringing down the reputation of the league even more.
Neither of those factors is here to doom Carrick anymore. If anything, Ineos’ recruitment is perfectly tailored to set him up for success.
Michael Carrick decision shouldn’t be influenced by history
The narrative of “Carrick shouldn’t be trusted because Ole failed” is extremely faulty on a number of aspects, some of which are mentioned above.
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Even beyond those factors, should United just not appoint any manager since none have been bona fide successes since Sir Alex Ferguson?
Julian Nagelsmann is in the same “new breed” of coaches United tried with Ruben Amorim, so that rules him out.
Thomas Tuchel is the high-pedigree, volatile, and obsessive tactician whom United tried with Jose Mourinho, so it rules him out.
Mauricio Pochettino couldn’t handle egos at PSG, so that rules him out, and Carlo Ancelotti is near the end of his managerial career, like Louis van Gaal was, so that rules him out.
Why is it one “Ole rule” for Carrick, while every other manager isn’t subjected to the same level of scrutiny?
The reality is that Carrick should be given the job if he shows he can win consistently with a style of play that is attacking, while giving youth a chance.
United don’t need a system-obsessive tactician, they need a pragmatist who tweaks from game to game and keeps the players united.
They shouldn’t let the Solskjaer factor rule their heads while making a decision over Carrick. Nothing is the same anymore except the fact that they are both ex-players.
It’s just a lazy comparison.
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