Manchester United’s transformation under Michael Carrick has lifted the mood around Old Trafford – but it has also sparked serious interest from a host of clubs in the Premier League, according to...
Manchester United’s transformation under Michael Carrick has lifted the mood around Old Trafford – but it has also sparked serious interest from a host of clubs in the Premier League, according to a new report.
Interim for Amorim
The decision to sack Ruben Amorim at the start of January was a signal of chaos; a marker that something was rotten in the state of Manchester.
However, one month on from the prickly Portuguese’s departure, the Red Devils are flying with four wins from four under Carrick the Caretaker, who was handed the reins as interim head coach until the end of the season in Amorim’s wake.
United are currently fourth in the Premier League table, with this afternoon’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur putting them within three points of third-placed Aston Villa.
England’s coefficient in European tournaments means fifth will be sufficient to secure Champions League football, further strengthening the case for a return to the continent’s elite competition next season.
Carrick’s remit as interim is Champions League qualification, with INEOS viewing the inconsistencies of United’s rivals as the perfect opportunity for the club to take advantage – and he is certainly living up to the brief so far.
Carrick catches the eye
The immediate way the 44-year-old Englishman has improved the team, both on and off the pitch, has been nothing short of remarkable, putting Manchester City and Arsenal to the sword in the process.
The manner in which he has achieved it suggests his predecessor was attempting something needlessly complex, and by simply reverting Amorim’s more egregious decisions – dropping Kobbie Mainoo and playing Bruno Fernandes as a deep-lying midfielde to name a few – he has found a winning formula.
It would be reductive to attribute Carrick’s success solely to being ‘anti-Amorim’, however, with three clubs in the division understood to be impressed enough to put him on their shortlists.
There has been clamour for INEOS to appoint him on a permanent basis, despite their plan to wait until the summer to settle on Amorim’s long-term successor.
However, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Fulham are all “watching Carrick’s progress closely” as each team has uncertainty over their manager, according to a report relayed byTEAMtalk.
Ironically, all three – Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner and Marco Silva – are all under consideration by United’s hierarchy, meaning one may take Carrick’s place as the former midfielder assumes their role in the reverse direction.
If INEOS do take the plunge to offer Carrick the hotseat full-time, they may have to do so earlier than the summer if one of their domestic rivals tries to get there first.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Category: General Sports
