Manchester United v Leeds United - Premier League
Michael Carrick had a bad night as Man Utd lost to Leeds (Image: Getty)
An hour before Manchester United kicked off against Leeds at Old Trafford, Gary Neville told Sky Sports: "I think it's getting to a point where it's pretty inevitable they're going to appoint Michael Carrick." The following 90 minutes against Leeds perhaps showed why they shouldn't.
Yes, Carrick has still done a good job as interim manager. Eight wins from 11 games; victories over Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. A strong likelihood United will be back in the Champions League next season, which didn't even seem realistic when Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in mid-January.
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But the job he's had so far, and the job going forward, are two very different realities. And Carrick was really poor in the defeat to Leeds. Kobbie Mainoo's absence hurt, but starting Manuel Ugarte was a mistake. Dropping Bryan Mbeumo was another.
United had 24 days between this and their last match, the draw at Bournemouth, and yet the Red Devils' tactical plan was dreadful. They were overpowered and outrun in a dire first half that ultimately cost them.
Clearly, the squad has major holes and needs surgery if Champions League nights return to Old Trafford next season. But it isn't Carrick who should be overseeing those glamour ties even though he will have done a good job to confirm them.
The interim manager was fuming with referee Paul Tierney's decision-making. But United can only really look at themselves. The first 45 minutes was in no way good enough. Say what you want about the Lisandro Martinez red card - United did not deserve to win.
There have been a few matches now where United's tactical set-up under Carrick has been poor. He was sorely missing Patrick Dorgu, Mainoo and Harry Maguire against Leeds - but he knew two of those were absent for much of the last three weeks. OK, the Mainoo setback was a late one. But why not play Mason Mount or even Tyler Fletcher? It's not breaking news that Ugarte isn't good enough.
And the Uruguayan was kind enough to remind Old Trafford of that fact last night. He is one of several who need to be moved on by INEOS this summer, regardless of where United finish in the final Premier League table.
Manchester United v Leeds United - Premier League
Man Utd need a better long-term manager than Michael Carrick (Image: Getty)
Neville added of the club's search for their next manager: "United need to get back to winning titles and Champions Leagues." The brutal truth is that Carrick is now showing why he isn't the man to bring that success, regardless of how much credit he's earned for his work so far.
If anything, it shows just how bad a job Ruben Amorim was doing. Carrick is a competent manager. Not a world-class one. And yet he has done twice as well as the Portuguese coach did with an imbalanced squad.
So imagine what a truly elite boss could come in and do. Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are the dream tickets. But an Andoni Iraola has shown greater tactical expertise than Carrick and could also do a lot with some of these United players.
Carrick deserves praise for proving this United squad is not completely FUBAR. But next season there will be more pressure. There won't be as much time between matches, with European football back on United's calendar, and the expectation will be on the Red Devils to begin bridging the gap to Arsenal and Manchester City.
They will only truly do that with a better coach on the touchline. What Daniel Farke's Leeds did to United at Old Trafford spelt that out quite clearly.
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