Five reasons Michael Carrick could get permanent Manchester United job

Michael Carrick goes up against the side where his footballing career began tonight, as he takes his unbeaten start as Manchester United boss to East London to play West Ham United. 

The London Stadium may not be his old stomping ground, but it was with the Hammers where Carrick's football origin story started, and he faces his old side tonight looking to continue a perfect start to life as United's interim boss. 

It may still feel too early to start debating who will be in charge at Old Trafford next season, but the former midfielder is already making a strong case. 

DAZN News gives five reasons why Michael Carrick could be given the Manchester United hot seat permanently this summer.  

He can't stop winning 

Sounds too simple, but football managers are ultimately judged on results, and so far, Carrick is getting the right results and doing it in different ways, too. 

Beating both Manchester City and Arsenal in your first two games were two fixtures somewhat 'easy' to get up for him and his players, but they still had to do their jobs, and they did them admirably - even if there was an element of 'underdog' football about the wins.

The biggest test was then aimed at Carrick when United hosted Fulham, and although they didn't have it all their own way, they prevailed in a vintage United way that wouldn't have been out of place under Sir Alex. 

On Saturday, against a team of ten men, the Red Devils controlled the game and did enough to break down a Spurs defensive unit and earn a fourth win from four. 

While Carrick may well be judged on more than just winning games, it's been a long time since United got anywhere near winning five in a row. Just look at that lad with the massive afro, who's been desperate for a haircut for evidence of that. 

He's made the easy choices look good 

Another slight slight on Carrick has been that he's made changes that were glaringly obvious to everyone outside the stubbornness of Ruben Amorim, but not only has he made them, but he's made them work, too. 

Bringing in Kobbie Mainoo from the cold has given United a better balance in the middle, and the player is clearly playing with a renewed confidence installed in him by faith from the interim boss. His performances have been so consistent that there's already talk of an England recall next month. 

Switching the defence to a back four, something that seemed so obvious for so long, has already made United more solid and brought the best out of the full-backs, who are now playing as proper and more conventional full-backs. 

Carrick hasn't tried to be radical. He's made the necessary improvements and he and his coaching staff have made them work. 

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

He's improved the underperformers 

One of the quick improvements Carrick and his team have also made is to make some of the key players perform better. 

The system has helped, but it's how quickly we've seen an upturn in form from most of the United playing staff. Manioo, we've already mentioned, who's come in and instantly gone back to the form that saw him break into England's Euro 2024 squad, Benjamin Sesko looks like a dangerous weapon off the bench and Harry Maguire has been immense since Carrick came in. 

Then there's Bruno Fernandes, who's been moved further forward and is leading by example, while the team is getting goals and moments from Bryan Mbeumo and Mathus Cunha, they were only getting fleetingly previously. 

His small tweaks have reaped rewards 

It's not just on the pitch where Carrick's small changes have made the difference; his training regimes have been tweaked and it's been to the benefit of the players' performances, but also their mental well-being, too. 

United's stars are now permitted a day off after matchdays, something that wasn't granted under either Erik ten Hag or Ruben Amorim, with recovery sessions now set for when the players are back at Carrington. 

This change in routine follows Carrick's call to shorten training days, but upping the intensity and focusing on individual sessions with specific players, with Jonny Evans and Jonthan Woodgate often doing the defensive work. 

In an era where small margins make so much difference, it's an early sign that the new boss can implement changes that make a significant impact. 
Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

He's Manchester United 

It's cliche and it hasn't worked in the past, but Michael Carrick, who does 'get' the club. 

Not that should be a requirement for getting the job, because the club have been burned in the past going down that route, but this time it feels like a more credible and sensible option. 

The club have tried several different routes with managers, whether that's established names like Jose Mourinho or Louis van Gaal or the up-and-comers such as Erik ten Hag and Amorim, none have worked long term. 

In Carrick they have a calm and measured coach - much like how he was in his playing days - deeply rooted in the club's history, who wants to prove he can coach on the big stage. 

Much has been made of DNA and 'the United way', but if it comes hand in hand with results, it should be looked at as part of a package that could finally see the club get the right man for the job. 

 

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