Michael Carrick was only meant to be a temporary solution, but it feels like the universe is aligning itself to get him the permanent manager job.
From the players making Ineos’ life tricky by backing him publicly, to how he’s carried himself like a Man Utd manager, there are plenty of controllable factors Michael Carrick is acing.
Fate is watching Carrick do everything right, and it seems set on helping him by aligning the stars in his favour.
Don’t believe it? Here are the major dominoes that have already fallen to strengthen the case for Carrick to get the job permanently.
Prove me wrong: Michael Carrick has already shown enough to become permanent Man United manager.
13 points from 15 would be title winning form over a full season…
Oliver Glasner’s self-combustion
Oliver Glasner was among the early favourites to get the job when Ruben Amorim was sacked, and he was set to leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season.
However, the way he has imploded since that announcement makes Amorim’s outbursts at Old Trafford look tame.
From calling himself not good enough to warning Palace fans to be careful what they wish for, it has been one trainwreck after another, with Glasner intent on forcing the board to sack him.
His reputation has taken a huge hit, and Man Utd fans won’t take kindly to his appointment anymore.
Roberto de Zerbi’s explosion at Marseille
Roberto de Zerbi continues to get linked to United after getting close to the job back when Erik ten Hag was sacked.
However, his Marseille spell has revealed the worst traits of his managerial career, and they coincide with the measured calmness of Carrick.
De Zerbi crashed and burned out of Marseille once things stopped going his way, and it doesn’t help that it’s a pattern everywhere he’s been.
If he can’t handle the scrutiny at Marseille, then coming to United would be box-office, but for the rivals.
Thomas Tuchel extends with England
Thomas Tuchel was among the names United were willing to wait for until the summer, when his England contract expires after the World Cup.
Tuchel has been close to United previously too, but he signed a contract extension with England that takes him through to 2028 Euros instead.
Fans were more warm to the idea of Tuchel than they were to De Zerbi or Glasner, but he took himself off the market. Fate singing for Carrick?
Carlo Ancelotti extends with Brazil
In terms of what a Man Utd manager needs, Carlo Ancelotti was the perfect calm presence with a quiet authority who could have been free after his World Cup with Brazil.
However, like Tuchel, Ancelotti extended his Brazil contract, taking himself off the market well before the World Cup.
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🔮 Let us know who you believe will and should be in charge? Who will Ineos appoint?
The fact that both these announcements came so close to each other was impossible to ignore. Is the universe giving clarity to Ineos that their ideal manager is already appointed?
Premier League coaches are getting found out
Besides Glasner, United were linked to a host of Premier League-proven coaches as the club tried to replicate their player recruitment policy in the manager market.
However, since Carrick’s appointment, every “flavour of the month” coach has been found out in some way or another.
Fabian Hurzeler received “sacked in the morning” chants from Brighton fans recently. The noise around Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola has gone completely quiet.
Thomas Frank left Spurs in disarray after interviewing for the United job in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s garage, and even Unai Emery’s Aston Villa is seeing their luck catch up to them.
Furthermore, Liam Rosenior’s start at Chelsea has necessitated a revisionism over how well Enzo Maresca was actually doing at the club.
The attraction of a new hire is dimming with every week, while Carrick continues to strengthen his case with every game.
Final word
All the above dominoes would count for nothing if Carrick himself wasn’t doing the job well. Not only has he blown past expectations, but he’s also done so by restoring the club’s DNA.
Have you been impressed with Michael Carrick’s coaching staff?
Would you keep them all if he becomes permanent?🤔
He is present at all academy games, has already given a debut to Tyler Fletcher despite fewer games, plays on the front foot, and speaks like a seasoned Man Utd manager.
The fate is helping him, but he’s also making his own case as ironclad as possible. The expectation for him was to qualify for Champions League football.
Just five games into his tenure, even the suggestions of a title race are not being completely laughed off (only slightly laughed off!).
If he can keep this momentum up until the final day of the season, then the job is his to lose.
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