Owen Hargreaves spoke to the MEN about Man United, Michael Carrick, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire.
Carrick and Hargreaves with the Premier League title in 2008. (Image: 2008 Manchester United)
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"If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck."
Michael Carrick talks and carries himself like a Manchester United manager. He has overseen wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham since his interim appointment. Carrick has outfoxed Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta during that run, while getting the better of Marco Silva and Thomas Frank, two managers who United considered hiring in 2024.
United are well-placed to secure Champions League football and the conversation about whether Carrick should be given the job permanently is under way. On Monday, Owen Hargreaves spoke to the Manchester Evening News, and was asked to weigh in on that conversation.
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The 45-year-old has earned a reputation as one of the most articulate pundits in the business, and believes it would be a no-brainer for United to give Carrick the job if he steers the club into the Champions League.
"I don’t see how you couldn’t give it to him," said Hargreaves. "What would have been the point of working that hard? You can get elite managers in, but that doesn't guarantee success.
"What Michael’s doing is very impressive. The fans are happy, which is important. The players are happy and that’s important, but the most important thing is that the team wins.
"United have had big-name managers on the bench. They had two of the greatest in the last 10 years, up there with Pep and Ancelotti: Van Gaal and Mourinho. A huge name comes with more expectation."
Carrick received support from matchgoers even before his appointment was formalised. His name was sung at Turf Moor when Darren Fletcher was caretaker, and "it's Carrick, you know, hard to believe it's not Scholes" was aired by fans after the victory over Tottenham last weekend.
Hargreaves works as a pundit for TNT Sports.(Image: 2026 James Gill - Danehouse)
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United sources have insisted that nobody is getting carried away. Carrick has played down questions about his future, but Hargreaves believes he would be worthy of landing the job permanently.
He said: "I’ve known Michael for 24 years. I played with him for 21. He’s not a 'me' guy. He’ll ask, 'What’s the solution? How can I make him play better?' He’s good with people. He’ll put players in positions to succeed. He’s got Bruno, the best creator in the division. Kobbie is back in the team.
"Casemiro playing as the six. Everybody’s in a good spot. The back four is super good. Every player is playing different roles compared to before. Wing-backs are full-backs. Centre-backs went from a three to a two. Midfield two is now a three. Tens playing wide or as strikers.
"Even Bryan Mbeumo has played on the right or as a 10. To change that many players with no pre-season and still make the team function — I don’t see how you couldn’t give him the job.
"You know what it’s like when it’s not good and when everyone’s happy, and you’re winning. Why stop that just to bring in a name? If you could get Luis Enrique, obviously. But the only thing going against Carrick is experience. The most important thing is the team functions, and it is functioning well.
"Pep got an opportunity as a young coach and took it. Zidane got an opportunity and did remarkable things with Madrid. Everyone said 'young coach', but he needed an opportunity. He ran with it. If Carrick finishes third or fourth, I don’t see how you don’t follow it through."
Hargreaves spoke ahead of this week's Premier League fixtures on TNT Sports. The former United midfielder will provide punditry during United's match against West Ham when the Reds could win five consecutive matches for the first time since February 2024.
"He’s been faultless. Even his subs have been great. The starting XI looks good, everyone looks settled," added Hargreaves. "Michael has done a good job of finding solutions and not being rigid. I don’t understand when we got into this position where every manager says, 'This is how I play and I’m not going to change it.' Why? I never played in a game of football that looked the same. I never played in two games that looked the same.
"So why would I always have the same plan or formation? Against Tottenham, there was so much rotation. Players popped up in different positions. Bruno was rotating all over the place. Shaw was pushing high. Casemiro was dropping between the centre-backs. Players found solutions out there and weren’t wedded to one style."
Carrick has given fans something to smile about.(Image: MI News/NurPhoto)
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Kobbie Mainoo has been at the centre of Carrick's success since his appointment. The youngster was left in the cold during Ruben Amorim's tenure, but Carrick has made Mainoo integral to his plans. He has rewarded Carrick's faith in him by delivering four excellent performances.
"I’ve never seen him have a bad game. That’s mad for a young kid," said Hargreaves. "He didn’t play for a year and walked into the two hardest games in the league. Kobbie’s a ball player. He’s not going to win loads of tackles but can do enough, especially with who he plays with.
"If I were a coach, I’d think: 'I’ve got this kid and a guy who’s won so many Champions Leagues. He probably needs another hand.' Imagine Kobbie in between that. Kobbie is elite in terms of being able to pass anywhere.
"I mentioned at the weekend - not comparing George Best to Kobbie - but talking about the Munich Air Disaster and the Busby Babes, and George Best coming through shortly after and winning a European trophy. This club is built on promoting academy players. Look at The Class of 92', then Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay, and now Kobbie.
"After not playing for a year, to play as he has - I don’t know many players in the world who could do that. He’s not doing loads of interviews, not too up or down. Just a great player. I’m so happy for him because he deserves it."
Mainoo has not played for England since starting in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, but he could force himself back into the squad for the World Cup if he maintains his current form.
Mainoo is back to his best.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
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Harry Maguire is another United player with hope of representing the Three Lions this summer. The defender has been excellent alongside Lisandro Martinez, however, Maguire will not be a United player by the World Cup if an agreement is not reached over a new contract with his current deal expiring in the summer.
"From a leadership standpoint, if you want to defend your box as they did in the first two games, which you have to because teams have gone more old school, then Harry’s one of the best at that," said Hargreaves.
"He’s got a partner in Martinez who can play. All the great Premier League teams started with a centre-back partnership: United with Bruce and Pallister, Vidic and Ferdinand; Chelsea with Terry and Carvalho; Arsenal with Adams, and Liverpool too. Look at Arsenal now with Gabriel and Saliba.
"It’s all built on that. Since they’ve gone to a back four, that’s perfect. One of the biggest mistakes United made when things started to go wrong in the transfer market was losing leadership.
"They lost so many leaders within a few years: Van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo. You can sign players all you like, but they lost leadership.
"You only really know players when it’s difficult. Other than Bruno, they didn’t have enough leaders. With Harry’s leadership and everything he’s been through, he can mentor younger players. I hope he stays. Credit to him for how he’s come through and kept playing well."
Owen Hargreaves spoke to the MEN ahead of this week's Premier League games being shown live on TNT Sports.