Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has admitted that Manchester United could become a real force if Ineos throw their full support behind Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.
John Obi Mikel praised the impact of Michael Carrick at Old Trafford after the Red Devils overcame his former side at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
Man Utd clinched a 1-0 win over Chelsea and the Red Devils strengthened their position to finish inside the Premier League top four in the 2025-26 season.
Matheus Cunha inflicted the key blow in the Premier League match and Man Utd’s victory over Chelsea was a major setback for the out-of-form Blues side.
Is Michael Carrick the right man? United have only won one of the last four games…
John Obi Mikel’s warning over Man Utd’s continued resurgence under Michael Carrick if Ineos appoint him permanently
John Obi Mikel insisted that Manchester United’s backing of Michael Carrick would be the make-or-break factor if the Red Devils legend were appointed permanently.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, he said: “Of course, of course. I think Michael Carrick is doing an absolutely fantastic job.
“I think next season, if he gets the backing that he wants, and I think if he gets the job, obviously, he’s not been given the job yet.”
Carrick has been tipped as one potential candidate for the vacant United manager role amid Ineos’ hunt for Ruben Amorim’s long-term successor at Old Trafford.
Mikel added that a key part of Ineos’ transfer policy should be reinforcing the defence with new centre-back options and bringing in a top-quality midfielder.
“If he gets the job and he gets a little bit of backing, brings in, I think, a couple of centre-backs,” he added.
“And I think, maybe, another midfield player; Mainoo now is performing, [he] is playing well again.
“Casemiro is leaving the football club, bringing somebody else that can have the grit to be able to tackle, run, and be that guy that can break up plays.”
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John Obi Mikel feels that Man Utd are on the right path if they maintain their current direction
Mikel also explained that Carrick’s tactical approach at Man Utd has now seen the Red Devils’ frontline start to ‘click’ in place with last summer’s transfer signings.
The 38-year-old former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder fears that the Red Devils’ rise in football could coincide with the Blues’ decline in the Premier League.
“I think [the] strikers for what they have, all the Mbeumos and the Cunhas, all the players who can create; Sesko, it seems like he’s finding his feet now,” Mikel continued.
“The trajectory is there, Manchester United are on the way up, and we [Chelsea] seem to be on the way down.
“It’s a worrying time for Chelsea fans, and I just hope that we can quickly get ourselves out of this mess that we find ourselves, because we don’t want to go five years, 10 years without winning the Premier League, and it just looks like that’s where we’re headed right now, because [Manchester] City will spend again next season.”
Man Utd are currently third in the Premier League table and the Red Devils will return to action against Brentford at Old Trafford next Monday evening.
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