Former Manchester United assistant coach Benni McCarthy has offered his thoughts on the state of the club at the moment.
Benni McCarthy worked for United as assistant coach under Erik ten Hag, and recognises the intense pressure placed on the management team.
United sacked Ten Hag in October 2024 and fired his replacement Ruben Amorim at the start of this year, and McCarthy is wary of United rushing into yet another change.
The Red Devils have won only two of 11 games to start the season, in all competitions.
Speaking to South African outlet Sporty TV, McCarthy was asked if United should stick with Carrick. He responded: “Yes, I definitely think so. He’s a young manager and even if you go and change now who you going to get in his place? Which good managers?
“I think that for me the most deserving manager that I would love to see at Man United is Luis Enrique but he isn’t going to leave PSG. He definitely isn’t going to leave, I wouldn’t if I was him. He would be a nutcase to leave what he’s built at PSG to come to Man Utd.”
McCarthy is unfortunately correct, that it is highly unlikely Luis Enrique would consider the United job, and he does not feature in our list of the 11 most likely replacements for Carrick.
McCarthy on Martinez
Lisandro Martinez was one of the players who McCarthy crossed over with at United, and he was asked about the defender’s recent criticism of the board.
McCarthy backed Martinez and offered the opinion that the United defender is in the best position to call out the issues at the football club.
He said: “The players are there everyday, they see way more than we see. We only see the matchday, they’re there on a daily basis and they see what needs fixing, they’re in the best position to talk about it.
“He only meant well, I firmly believe he only meant well because he wants the best for the football club. If you saw him in training you would wish every player has his mentality, he has the right attitude, he would never say something to hamper the team, it’s only to help the team.
“To get stronger, so they change what needs changing, so the best version of Manchester United can come out.”
Michael Carrick stuck with Martinez in the subsequent game after his rant – but the Argentine then suffered an injury that required him to be substituted at half-time against Leeds.