Michael Carrick faces a 24-day break before Man Utd’s next game, but if the last two days are any indication, he’ll happily wait!
The break doesn’t exactly come at a good time for Michael Carrick, especially because Man Utd dropped two points at Bournemouth due to a bizarre refereeing performance.
Generally, United are still favourites for getting a UCL spot next season, but going into such a long break with a win would have been ideal.
However, the picture looks a lot rosier for Carrick’s prospects of getting the full-time job because of the developments in the following two days.
Manchester United head coach / manager Michael Carrick celebrates at full time during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on February 23, 2026
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Are you still confident Man Utd will finish third after the draw with Bournemouth?
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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at Vitality Stadium on March 20, 2026
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s stock rises with Premier League reality check
The general consensus about Carrick’s coaching tenure so far is that he started like a house on fire, then the team ground out results as malaise set in, eventually leading to a loss at Newcastle.
The win against Aston Villa was a necessary riposte, and the less said about the farce that was the Bournemouth game the better.
From Paul Scholes to Gary Neville and Roy Keane, everyone seemed only too happy to write off United’s wins as unsustainable due to the level of performances, ignoring the context that the league is as strong as it has ever been.
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That reality check has been provided by the league itself since United drew against Bournemouth.
What looked like an open door for the UCL qualification rivals to race into has turned into a point gained on them.
Liverpool lost away at Brighton, deservedly so, and then Chelsea surrendered to Everton 3-0 in a loss that leaves United nicely placed in third.
It mustn’t be forgotten that United’s win against Everton was being written off as “escaped with three points”, and the same team has now taught a footballing lesson to Chelsea.
The reality is that there are no longer teams in the league that you can just turn up against and expect to win without fuss.
The fact that Carrick has seven wins, two draws, and a single defeat in his first ten games despite taking over mid-season is something that is not talked about enough.
Carrick’s case is becoming undeniable for Ineos and Man Utd
It’s understandable that Ineos don’t want to look like they’re jumping the gun with Carrick’s appointment by making it official too early.
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At the same time, the dominoes that have fallen for Carrick make it impossible not to feel that the final decision is heading his way.
Even when he’s not managing a game, the circumstances elsewhere make his results age like fine wine.
And when he is managing, he’s winning 70% of the time, which is more than double the win rate of his predecessor at Old Trafford.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and right now, it’s that Carrick is doing a better job than anyone can hypothesise about any other manager doing in the future.
It makes him undeniable for Ineos and Man Utd.
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