Manchester United · Portugal · 40 yrs
Michael Carrick staying on at Manchester United has been a possible outcome since 25 January, 12 days after Michael Carrick was appointed as Ruben Amorim's replacement ahead of former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Carrick had already beaten Manchester City – but Amorim, Solskjaer and others had done that. When United beat Arsenal at the Emirates thanks to Matheus Cunha's late goal, it was different, the first hint at Carrick bringing something more substantial to Old Trafford.
It would be foolish of the club to undo a winning, entertaining formula by turning elsewhere for a permanent head coachThese days, we have a strong desire to complicate football, particularly in how we talk about it. Often, we are saying the same stuff we always were, just calling things by different names – styles are philosophies, contributions are actions, players earn minutes, not appearances – and the game can still be as simple as it ever was. This is something Michael Carrick understands well, and is one reason Manchester United’s next move is also simple: they have no choice but to appoint him as permanent head coach.Under Carrick, United’s 33 points from 15 games puts them top of the form table for a period in which rivals have been beaten and Champions League qualification guaranteed, with a third-place finish highly likely. Had Ruben Amorim delivered these results, he’d be secure; were Luis Enrique responsible, they’d be further evidence of his generational – outstanding – brilliance. Yet there remains equivocation. Continue reading...
Michael Carrick is expected to be recommended to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the permanent boss of Manchester United by the club's senior executives. The 44-year-old has been viewed as favourite for the job since securing qualification for next season's Champions League during a successful period as caretaker head coach. The club intended to delay making a decision on appointing a successor to Ruben Amorim, who was sacked in January, until the end of the season.
Manchester United have been warned that Michael Carrick could face a similar fate to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a permanent appointment. The former midfielder replaced Ruben Amorim as head coach on a deal until the end of the season and has been impressive in the role. Carrick has made a hugely positive impression as United head coachGetty Carrick has won ten of his 15 matches in charge and, as talkSPORT reported earlier this week, is close to becoming the permanent boss. United are yet to offer him any assurances, but are aware that he has the backing of the dressing room. Sources close to Carrick, who guided the club to Champions League qualification, expect formal discussions to begin imminently. However, Jason Cundy does not believe that he is the right man for role long-term despite his accomplishments this season. He cited Solskjaer, who Carrick replaced as caretaker manager in 2021, as a cautionary tale of how initial success could cloud their judgement. Solskjaer took the permanent job in 2019 after winning 14 of his 19 matches as caretaker, but left two years later with the club seventh. “I can see both sides, and I am so torn on this,” Cundy said on the GameDay Phone-In for talkSPORT after their 0-0 draw at Sunderland. “The reason I’m torn on this is, has Carrick come into Man United and done a good job? Results wise, yes… I’ve seen performances, they’re unconvincing.” Cundy then delivered a passionate explanation as to why he may be sceptical of Carrick’s ability to take on the permanent job, saying: “They’ve had half a season off! “Honestly, you’re all dancing around the elephant in the room. The elephant in the room is that Manchester United, and Carrick has come in, he has had to deal with just one game a week. Cundy has his reservations about Carrick being in the job beyond the summerGetty “You are crazy if you don’t have that conversation with yourself, I think if you just go (on about) how well he’s done, (that) they’re six points off (Manchester) City… “But here’s the thing, City have won the Carabao Cup, City have been in Europe, City have got the FA Cup (final) coming up.” “Why are we talking about City?” Jamie O’Hara asked, and Cundy said: “Because you said they’re six points off City… City will probably play more games this calendar year than Man United will all season! “They’ve played 40 games, it’s a travesty! If you really want to say how well he’s done and blow smoke up his backside, fine. “But when you look at the bigger picture… Bruno (Fernandes) has had half a season off, all the Man United players have had half a season off, they all have. “Man City players haven’t, Arsenal players haven’t, Chelsea players haven’t… we’re in an FA Cup final, we got to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, got to the knockout stages of the Champions League.” United have been tough to beat during Carrick’s reign His co-host Jamie O’Hara stressed that United weren’t in any extra competitions when Carrick took over, and that it’s not his fault. “Next season, when they’ve got the Champions League, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, then you judge him and say, ‘Is he good enough?'” Cundy responded: “Right, okay, but if you’re not prepared to take that into consideration now, what’s the point? “‘Look how well he’s done, look, he’s done this, he’s done that’. Fine, it’s not a Carabao Cup semi-final, it’s not an FA Cup final, Champions League.” “He hasn’t had the opportunity!” O’Hara cried, but Cundy insisted: “I know, but you’ve got to factor that into your answer. Every single Man United player has had half a season off, every single one!” O’Hara then asked Cundy if he would give Carrick the job, with the latter laid out his thoughts: “I think he’s going to get it. “I’m not convinced it’s the right answer, I think he’s going to get it by default, it’s almost like you can’t not give it to him now. “But I think they could be sleepwalking themselves into an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer situation… they could be, sleepwalking into a situation wh
Joshua Zirkzee has been told his time at Manchester United could be coming to an end after his poor performance against Sunderland. The Dutchman was handed his first start under Michael Carrick for the Red Devils’ 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light, but struggled make his mark on the game. Zirkzee failed to complete 90 minutes in his first start under Michael CarrickAFP After United secured Champions League football with victory over Liverpool last week, Zirkzee came in for the injured Benjamin Sesko. With the club expected to allow him to leave in the summer, two years on from his £36.5million arrival from Bologna, this was one of the 24-year-old’s last chances to fight for his United career. But Zirkzee failed to convince anyone of his worth with his performance at Sunderland. His hold-up play regularly let him down, and he squandered a huge opportunity to create a chance on the counter attack. After being played through by Mason Mount, Zirkzee led a four-on-three on the right-and side of Sunderland’s box, but failed to pick out a teammate, with his cross hitting the first fan. ‘Not a Man United player’ Zirkzee’s afternoon was brought to an end in the 65th minute, as he was replaced by Patrick Dorgu minutes after picking up a yellow card. But talkSPORT’s Micky Gray believed his afternoon should have been cut short even earlier. Speaking live from the game, he said: “For the life of me I don’t know how Bryan Mbeumo has not come on at half time for Joshua Zirkzee. “He’s just not a Man United player. I’m sorry to say it, but everything bounces off him as a striker. “He’s a huge guy but for somebody who’s so big and tall and strong as he is, he’s just so weak. GettyZirkzee struggled to keep hold of the ball against Sunderland[/caption] Benjamin Sesko has been United’s first-choice striker under Carrick, and the Dutchman did little to suggest this should be differentGetty “And I can’t believe he’s actually still playing for Manchester United. “I think he’s certainly one of the players that you’re trying to move on in the summer.” End of the road? Zirkzee’s performance against Sunderland summed up his Man United career, which has never really got going. Having joined the club under Erik ten Hag in 2024, the Netherlands star met a stumbling block when the Dutchman was sacked months later and replaced by Ruben Amorim. His early displays weren’t always convincing, and he was famously hauled off after just 33 minutes in a league match against Newcastle. Despite this, Zirkzee was often favoured Rasmus Hojlund under Amorim last season, but managed just seven goals in all competitions. Zirkzee has fallen down the pecking order during his two years at Man UnitedGetty His second season has proved a much tougher affair, especially since Carrick’s arrival as interim manager in January. Prior to the Sunderland clash, he had featured exclusively off the bench, with Benjamin Sesko being preferred up front. Zirkzee has managed just two goals all season – both of which came in the Amorim era – having last found the net in a 1-1 draw with bottom club Wolves in December. His display against Sunderland came just 24 hours after talkSPORT’s Chief Football Correspondent and United fan Alex Crook suggested Zirkzee could still play a role for the club next season. With Champions League football secured ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, the Red Devils will need to draw on their squad depth to cope with more fixtures, and Crook believes the forward’s technical ability could come in handy here. Overall in his Man United career, Zirkzee has made 73 appearances, scoring just nine goals and providing four assists.
Footballer has 664 million followers but his boring presence is a reminder of how reel-life destroys what it touchesBuy the backpack airlines hate. Fawn strangely at a child athlete. This TV presenter drank olive oil for a month and absolutely nothing happened. The streets (no actual streets involved) won’t forget (robots can’t forget) Paul Pogba (or equivalent coding).Nineties dance hits. Ruben Amorim loyalists. Argue with fake fans over a fake photo of fake empty seats. Buy a backpack that hates you because you once thought about buying a backpack, and like a Hungarian grandmother it will never, ever forget and you will be punished. Continue reading...
