Manchester United will soon have to decide who their next permanent manager will be as Michael Carrick puts himself in a strong position amid an impressive stint as interim boss
Michael Carrick smiles
Michael Carrick is in contention to become the next permanent Manchester United manager(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Few could have predicted the conundrum Manchester United now face over their next manager after Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. Michael Carrick was only supposed to be a stopgap solution. An interim in every sense of the word.
Sacked by Middlesbrough – this was someone with no CV to become the next permanent head coach at Old Trafford. But Sunday's 3-1 win over Aston Villa has led Carrick's former teammate, Wayne Rooney, to call for his appointment. Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, believes Villa's Unai Emery should be the leading candidate.
And yet both are wrong. Carrick does not have the experience to restore United to their former glory. Make no mistake, the former Red Devils midfielder has done a phenomenal job since taking temporary charge at M16. His canny man-management skills, combined with the tactical acumen of a well-appointed backroom team, have put United on course for a return to the Champions League.
Of course, the absence of European football at Old Trafford has helped Carrick hugely, but Ruben Amorim was never able to get the same tune out of United's squad. The 44-year-old deserves credit for the impact he has had so far.
And yet being the permanent manager of United is a whole different ball game. While Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox will be mostly responsible for identifying talent in the transfer market, whether signings succeed or fail would largely be down to Carrick.
The Englishman has done well to mould United's current squad into a cohesive collection of players, but becoming permanent manager would require greater emphasis on a style of play. There needs to be a clear vision that requires buy-in from players who would no longer have an interim boss.
Carrick has understandably yet to demonstrate that, as he is currently only in charge until the end of the season. There must be question marks, though, over whether he can, given he has only ever had a brief stint at Middlesbrough.
As for Emery, he lacks the charisma to lead one of football's biggest clubs – as demonstrated by his time at Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. The Spaniard struggled, particularly at the Gunners, where he was roundly mocked.
Unai Emery reacts
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is not the right fit for Manchester United(Image: Catherine Ivill /Getty Images)
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His failure in North London must be a concern for United bosses – even if he is currently enjoying success at Villa Park. It's a factor former United captain Gary Neville referenced on his Sky Sports podcast after Sunday's game.
"I don’t think, if Manchester United finish in the Champions League, they will take Michael Carrick out and put Unai Emery in," he said. "I don’t think they’d do that.
"That’s not because Carrick is a better coach; Emery is exceptional. However, I think because of his record previously at Arsenal that it would be too big of a risk."
So who should United target? PSG's Luis Enrique has the experience and trophies to lead a club of this stature.
Having Champions League and league titles at two of the game's biggest clubs, Barcelona and PSG, he should be top of United's shortlist. Of course, it may be unrealistic for United to land the Spaniard.
Why would he swap the reigning European champions for a side that is still battling to qualify for Europe's elite competition? And yet the lure of restoring the Premier League's biggest club must hold some appeal.
It may be hard to resist the sentimental temptation of Carrick, but a club the size of United need a proven winner. Enrique fits the bill.
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