Michael Carrick is the favourite to land the Man Utd job beyond the end of the season but the club are set to conduct a thorough process for the role.
Michael Carrick insists he has no problem with his Manchester United bosses running the rule over potential candidates to replace him, despite steering the club back into the Champions League.
The 44-year-old is expected to land the job on a permanent basis after a run of 10 wins from 14 games since he replaced Ruben Amorim in January, but United officials want to make sure he is the right man.
Old Trafford sources have been adamant since January that they will conduct a “thorough process” to make sure they get the appointment right, and although Carrick has aced his audition, that still stands.
Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter
A number of high-profile names have been ruled out, with Thomas Tuchel signing a new contract with the Football Association and Luis Enrique poised to commit his future to Paris Saint-Germain. United’s reluctance to consider a coach at the World Cup is expected to rule out Julian Nagelsmann.
That leaves Carrick’s main competition as Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, both of whom are leaving their clubs when their contracts expire this summer. United’s interim head coach is the favourite thanks to his outstanding record, but claims he isn’t fussed about seeing other people linked to the job.
“No, genuinely not. Whether it’s discussed or not discussed, it hasn’t bothered me, it hasn’t changed literally how I go about it,” he said.
“I’ve been confident in the work that we’re doing and working with the players and leading the club, so it literally hasn’t had any effect on me at all.
“I think it’s a process, I think pretty obviously it’s going to be a process and that was from the outset, in terms of finding someone to fill the position.”
Carrick’s claims to the role have been strengthened by several players backing him to stay publicly, with Kobbie Mainoo and Matheus Cunha the latest to add their support last weekend.
“I think as a coach or manager and a leader of a group, you’re only a leader of a group if people want to follow you,” said Carrick.
“It’s not a thing that you can talk about so much, it’s actions kind of prove that. So when I feel the support and I feel that the boys are all connected, not so much with me, but showing it together on the pitch is the most important thing really and they’ve clearly shown that in different ways.
“That’s the most pleasing thing and then we try to guide them and help them in certain ways. But yeah, it’s satisfying when you can see them putting it together as a team.”
Amad was the first player to go public with his support for Carrick staying in. His form has suffered recently, and he was withdrawn at half-time against Brentford, before coming on at half-time against Liverpool and giving the ball away for Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal.
But Carrick insists there is no concern internally around Amad and played down a hug he had offered the winger at the end of last week’s 3-2 win against Liverpool.
“Amad’s fine, he’s absolutely fine,” he said. “He’s no problem. He was smiling at full-time. Mistakes were part of football. I’ve made them. I’ve made plenty as a player, I understand, and sometimes you make them and it leads to a goal. Sometimes you make them and you get away with it and no one really talks about it.
“He’s done so many good things since I came back and the impact that he’s had on the team, his performance is what he gives the team. With the ball, without the ball, his energy, his attitude towards it and he’s been great over the last few days and he was great after the game and so he should be.
“He’s got nothing to feel down about or upset about or frustrated about because he’s got so much to look forward to and he’s so talented and so exciting and an absolute joy to work with.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login