Michael Carrick is undergoing an audition for the permanent job in real-time, so it’s in his best interests to distance himself from the spectre of Ruben Amorim as much as possible.
Be it by winning games, which Ruben Amorim didn’t do nearly enough of, or with proactive in-game management or calmness off the pitch, Michael Carrick needs to put his best foot forward.
He seems to be doing exactly that, most recently admitting a “real responsibility” in an area at Man Utd that felt ignored far too often under his predecessor.
Whether he becomes permanent or not is another matter, but he’s at least doing everything in his power.
Chido Obi of Manchester United and Ruben Amorim, head coach of Manchester United, look on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim deserves ___ % credit for Michael Carrick’s BRILLIANT start at Man Utd
Fill in the blank. Did Amorim lay the foundation for success at Old Trafford?
Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim as Man Utd managers split image
Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim as Man Utd managers
Michael Carrick’s ‘real responsibility’ with the Man Utd academy
The academy became a point of contention during Amorim’s reign at Old Trafford, as a man who arrived with the reputation of championing young talent abandoned his principles at United.
Amorim’s list of debutants at Sporting has some of the most high-profile names in world football today, but a switch seemed to get flicked in his mind at United.
Forget championing young talent with opportunities, he didn’t let any chance to slide by to let people know that the opportunities he did give were also not deserved.
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In contrast, Carrick has backed up his words for the academy with actions, regularly attending academy games and giving Tyler Fletcher his debut despite having just one game every week.
In an interview with Man Utd’s official website, Carrick has now said that he feels that paying attention towards the academy is a ‘real responsibility’ at a club like United.
He said: “I think the Academy is such an important part of this club too and has been for so long, so there’s a real responsibility to carry that through.
“So I certainly feel that responsibility, but it’s a real privilege, to be honest, and playing a part like that is exactly what we should be doing.”
Carrick is controlling the narrative smartly
Carrick might not be one to give bombastic headlines to the media every time he has a mic in front of him, but he’s still smartly controlling the narrative.
Should Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim earlier this season?
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He knew that the club and the fans needed a calm and composed demeanour after the explosive Amorim, whose “honesty” quickly started to sound like self-flagellation.
In contrast, Carrick has played his cards perfectly in the media by getting his point across in an understated manner but leaving nobody in doubt as to what he wants to talk about.
Granted, wins under his management have helped, something which Amorim rarely had, but his response even to the loss against Newcastle was measured.
He quickly shut down any narrative of the loss as a “character” problem, and stressed the long-term picture and the holistic results under his spell.
The same goes for his championing of the academy. He knows it was a huge pain point that alienated Amorim in the minds of many United fans.
He’s doing everything in his power to make himself a visible presence in that circuit and distancing himself from Amorim as much as possible.
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