Gary Neville’s conflicting stance on Michael Carrick becoming the next permanent Manchester United manager loses sight of looking beyond respected names like Thomas Tuchel.
Michael Carrick was installed as Manchester United interim head coach until the end of the 2025-26 Premier League season after his return to Old Trafford in January.
What is your message to Michael Carrick after the win vs Everton?
Getty Images
The 44-year-old United legend is meant to act as a ‘buffer’ amid the Ineos regime’s search for a long-term successor to Ruben Amorim at the Red Devils.
However, Carrick’s fairy-tale start to life as Red Devils interim boss has made it impossible to rule the former midfielder out of the permanent head coach role.
READ MORE: Gary Neville argues Amad is only Man Utd player that Michael Carrick will drop for Benjamin Sesko
Michael Carrick looks on next to assistant Steve Holland during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2026 in Liverpool, England.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Gary Neville’s Man Utd analysis on Michael Carrick and Thomas Tuchel is too much flip-flopping for no reason
Thomas Tuchel had been tipped as one of the potential candidates to arrive at Old Trafford to replace former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim at the club.
However, any potential desire for United to bring Tuchel to the Red Devils ended after the England manager committed his long-term future to the Three Lions.
More United News
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville rightfully pointed out that former Man Utd target Tuchel being ruled out of the running does not impact Michael Carrick.
Prove me wrong: Michael Carrick has already shown enough to become permanent Man United manager.
13 points from 15 would be title winning form over a full season…
Michael Carrick applauds after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
“Manchester United have to pursue another manager right now around the fact of you don’t know how the results are going to go,” he said ahead of United’s 1-0 win over Everton on Monday.
“But little things like Thomas Tuchel re-signing with England does start to take away the options for Manchester United and they don’t harm Michael’s chances of getting the job.”
Just when it seemed that Neville might throw his full backing behind former teammate Carrick, the Sky Sports pundit fell into his same ‘safety-first’ trap.
“If he gets United into the Champions League, there will be a lot of fever around that should be appointed,” he added.
“I’m not against him being appointed, I love him to bits. But I think Manchester United should go for the best class of manager available.
“They’ve had young and inexperienced managers in the last two picks. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in before as an ex-player and that didn’t work in the end.
“So, I feel removing as much risk as possible is the right option.”
READ MORE: Michael Carrick now hails special Man Utd link-up between Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo in 1-0 win over Everton
Gary Neville is wrong, as Man Utd must take the ‘risk’ with Michael Carrick after Thomas Tuchel’s England call
Neville has remained firm with bringing an elite head coach to Old Trafford to become the seventh permanent United manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
But the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021 as Man Utd head coach has forever haunted the idea of trying anything remotely resembling the same situation again.
Even the constant throwback to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign overlooks the fact that United finished second in the Premier League table under the treble winner.
Who do you think will be Man Utd manager at the start of the 2026/27 season?
🔮 Let us know who you believe will and should be in charge? Who will Ineos appoint?
United have looked solid under Carrick so far after six Premier League matches, with the Red Devils winning five league fixtures since the club legend’s stunning arrival.
Carrick has taken ‘risks’ himself early into his reign, including making the major call of dropping Benjamin Sesko as his main pick for the striker and turning to Bryan Mbeumo instead.
Ineos could try bringing in an elite coach and remain hopeful that they could finally put the Red Devils back on track, with no assurances that it could succeed at all.
However, the Red Devils could equally roll the dice, accept the risk factor and plan a long-term project at the Premier League club with Carrick firmly at the helm.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox