Pundit Rio Ferdinand has now hit back at one major critique made against a potential permanent managerial run for Michael Carrick at Manchester United.
Michael Carrick is preparing for his final two Premier League matches in charge of the Red Devils ahead of the end of his interim head coach reign at the club.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend only needs to secure one point with the Red Devils to ensure that the club finish third in the Premier League table.
United will host Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon and then the Red Devils will travel to Brighton on 24th May for their final match of the season.
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Rio Ferdinand defends Michael Carrick over handling an increased fixture schedule for Man Utd next season
Manchester United were reduced to a 40-match 2025-26 campaign after the Red Devils made their early exits from the League Cup and the FA Cup.
The Red Devils were also without European football for the current season after Man Utd fell short to Tottenham in the Europa League final in Spain in 2025.
But United will be back in Europe for the 2026-27 campaign at Old Trafford after the Red Devils secured a return to the Champions League under Michael Carrick.
Rio Ferdinand insisted that the criticism about Carrick struggling with an increased fixture schedule for next season can only be tested with his permanent appointment.
“I think Manchester United have been very good in the last transfer window or two, so if that can continue and he gets some more players to reinforce his squad […],” he told talkSPORT, as per the Metro.
“I get the question, ‘Ah, there’s going to be more games next season’ […]. So? You have to work that out.
“He’s earned the opportunity to work that out; that’s not a stick to beat him with, I don’t think. Give him the opportunity.”
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Rio Ferdinand is ready to see Michael Carrick become the next Man Utd manager for the 2026-27 Premier League season
Ferdinand is convinced that former Man Utd and England teammate Carrick has proven himself ready for the Old Trafford hot seat after this season’s success.
“He’s earned the right to get an opportunity to manage Manchester United,” he explained.
“We have to remember that Michael Carrick was brought into the football club when Manchester United were seventh in the league.
“People at the time were going, ‘You know what? I just hope he keeps us out of the relegation battle, I’d be happy to stay up,’ but he’s taken us to third convincingly and we’re looking closer to second than anywhere near the relegation pack.
“Just on that, on that merit alone, he deserves an opportunity. For anybody, I keep hearing saying, ‘He’s this, he’s that,’ we drew away to Sunderland the other day… that’s been a tough place for many teams to go this season.
“An away trip in the Premier League is no gimme, so he’s done a magnificent job, he deserves the opportunity, he deserves to get some resources put behind him in the transfer window.”
Man Utd are six points clear of fourth-place Liverpool and fifth-place Aston Villa ahead of Sunday’s home Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest.
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