Michael Carrick’s Perfect Start Is Creating a Dilemma for Manchester United
Manchester United appointed Michael Carrick as a temporary solution, but after three straight wins and a complete shift in mood at Old Trafford, the caretaker head coach is becoming something far more complicated.
Carrick was meant to buy time after the turbulent dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Instead, his 100% winning record against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham has accelerated United’s decision-making process — and may now force the club into a call it hoped to delay.
A Caretaker Who Is Exceeding Expectations
United’s original plan was clear: stabilise the team, steady results and allow the hierarchy time to identify the right long-term successor. Carrick has done far more than that.
The former midfielder has transformed performances and belief almost overnight, pushing United firmly into the Champions League qualification race. While that success should be celebrated, it has also compressed the club’s timeline for appointing a permanent head coach.
The longer United keep winning, the louder the calls will become for Carrick to be given the job outright.
Why United Can’t Afford to Wait Until the Summer
In an ideal world, United would wait until the end of the season, assess league position and then act. In reality, that approach risks being naive and damaging.
Elite managers such as Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino are all contracted until after the World Cup, while Oliver Glasner will be available in the summer. But United cannot wait passively — these coaches will have other suitors, and hesitation could cost them their top target.
If United are serious about returning to the elite, a decision needs to be made within the next four to six weeks.
Recruitment Plans Are on Hold Without Clarity
The uncertainty around the head coach role is already affecting squad planning.
Contract decisions for players like Harry Maguire, whose deal expires this summer, depend heavily on the preferences of the next manager. One coach may value his experience, another may prefer to move forward with Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.
Similarly, Kobbie Mainoo’s revival under Carrick highlights how dramatically player roles can change depending on who is in charge.
United are also exploring midfield reinforcements such as Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, but attracting targets of that calibre is difficult without clarity over the tactical direction and leadership at the club.
Carrick or an Elite Appointment? The Defining Choice
United now face a stark choice.
They can either:
- Commit to Carrick, backing the momentum and accepting the risk of inexperience at the top level, or
- Move decisively for an elite coach, even if it means stepping away from something that is currently working.
What they cannot do is sit on the fence. Delaying the decision would only weaken recruitment, unsettle players and risk another disjointed summer window.
Carrick’s success has given United a problem — a good one, perhaps — but one that demands a swift and decisive answer.
