Aston Villa manager Unai Emeryplaceholder image
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Man United's manager hunt continues, has Michael Carrick done enough to get the job?
Manchester United’s hunt for a new permanent manager appears to have been made easier by their form under Michael Carrick.
The former Old Trafford midfielder made an astute decision to surround himself with trusted lieutenants but also with a coach like Steve Holland who has a sterling reputation for being able to implement a head coach’s philosophy on the training ground. Ripping it all up to start again doesn’t seem like the best use of time despite some of the names being mentioned as possible options.
Gary Neville makes Unai Emery to Man United claim
One of those was on the losing side to Carrick at the weekend with Unai Emery’s impressive tenure at Aston Villa seeing his name near the top of the list. The Spaniard’s CV has numerous European trophies on it, however, speaking after the final whistle, Gary Neville disagreed that with Jamie Carragher who claimed he should be the favourite, saying on Sky Sports: “He (Emery) should be in contention because I’ve said before I think he’s the second-best manager in the league when it comes to experience in Europe after Pep Guardiola. Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot will have something to say about that and think differently maybe, but Unai Emery is exceptional.
“I can say now I don’t think Manchester United will… if Manchester United finish in the Champions League which I think they will I don’t think they will take Michael Carrick out and put Unai Emery in.
“And that’s not because I think Michael Carrick is a better coach than Unai Emery, I think Unai Emery is exceptional and he’s proved himself all over Europe and won trophies all over Europe.
“However, I just think they’ll think that because of his record previously, maybe at Arsenal, that it’ll be too big a risk to bring him into Manchester United, it’ll be too much of an upheaval and Michael Carrick has got an understanding of what happens here in this club.
“So, I don’t think it will be an appointment that will be made.”
Who does Neville think United should go for?
Neville makes a valid point, it isn’t just Emery’s time at Arsenal that should be a concern. How Villa have dropped from being title contenders, to clear in third place, to now worrying about even qualifying for the Champions League will have been noticed. Continuing, Neville reckons that it is Carrick’s job to lose unless one of football’s big guns become available: “I think for Michael Carrick not to be the manager of Manchester United next season it’s going to have to be one of the top managers in the world.
“Tuchel’s not there any more, your Ancelottis, your Enriques, those types of managers who are exceptional and world class. Unai Emery is in that category, but maybe just slightly below that sort of top level of Champions League winner, Premier League and La Liga title winning managers, but he’s an exceptional coach.
“I don’t think he will be the manager here next year, but Carra is right, he should be in the running because Manchester United should keep their options open right now because they don’t know what’s going to happen before the end of the season, but I don’t see him being here ahead of Michael Carrick.”
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