Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has said that Carlo Ancelotti is the perfect candidate to become the permanent manager of the Red Devils ahead of Michael Carrick this summer.
Carrick took interim charge of United last month. He has since transformed the club’s fortunes with six wins and one draw in the Premier League. The Red Devils are presently third in the standings and look in pole position to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Despite this, Scholes believes there is a better option than Carrick for the permanent head coach position. The United legend said that Carrick is ‘doing great’ at the moment, but questioned whether he has the experience to take charge of a top-flight club on a long-term basis.
He said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: “Michael Carrick is doing great, it’s unbelievable the change. If you put yourself in the owner’s shoes or whoever is making the decision, he’s putting real pressure on them to get the job.
“The people making that decision might have to think about it a little bit differently because I don’t think you need the most technical or talented coach. You’re at a big club with good players who know what they’re doing, maybe they need a man-manager more than anything.
“‘If you look back to Sir Alex [Ferguson] he was never a coach really but he knew the players, he knew what the players needed and how to treat players to get the best out of them.
“If you look at Real Madrid with Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane, I don’t think they’re the most technical or tactical coaches but they’re good man-managers. Ruben Amorim seemed obsessed with tactics and it didn’t work. Do those type of big clubs need those coaches or a more man-manager?
“I don’t know what Michael’s coaching style is like but I can imagine as a man-manager he’s very good because he’s brilliant with people and players. The question over Michael is does he have the experience? I know he’s managed in the Championship but this is obviously different.”
The former United midfielder added that Ancelotti is ‘the perfect one’ out there despite him being contracted with Brazil. Scholes’ only doubt is whether the 66-year-old may be considered too old for the managerial role at the Mancunian giants.
Scholes added: “Can we see Carrick winning United the Premier League? Look, we don’t know yet.
“Now the perfect one out there. Ancelotti is still out there, I know he’s with Brazil, but he’s that perfect one for Manchester United where you think he would make players feel a million dollars and he’s got the experience of winning trophies.
“The only question would be is he too old? That’s the only thing, is there anyone else of that ilk with a bit more experience?
“The way you judge a Manchester United manager is to look ahead and think, can United win the league with this manager? It’s not a case of finishing in the top-four, you need a manager who you think can win you the Premier League.”
“The great thing someone like Ancelotti has is experience – I know that sounds obvious – but we don’t know yet how Michael Carrick will deal with going through a bit of adversity.”
Carrick in the front seat for permanent managerial role
Despite Scholes’ comments, Carrick should be a front-runner for the permanent managerial vacancy this summer after turning around the club’s fortunes since January.
United were struggling to break into the league’s top four under former boss Ruben Amorim, but the club are now among favourites to secure Champions League football.
A run of 19 points from seven games has included statement wins over Manchester City and Arsenal. The Red Devils also ended their winless streak against Tottenham Hotspur.
United players have also shown plenty of fight with late decisive goals. The club are currently third in the standings with 51 points, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference.
A top-five league finish should be enough to qualify for the Champions League next term. The club are six points ahead of Chelsea, who probably have the toughest schedule.
United and Chelsea still have to face Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. They meet each other in mid-April.
The Blues also have a tough challenge against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. United have a six-point buffer and are strongly placed in the Champions League race.
If United were to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, Carrick will have probably done enough to secure the permanent managerial role. INEOS and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe may not look elsewhere.
Carrick would be a superb long-term manager for the Red Devils. Meanwhile, Ancelotti may not even be available with plans to commit his future to Brazil until June 2030.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com