Michael Carrick wins early matches but faces debate over long-term United role

Goal reports Michael Carrick has returned to the Old Trafford dugout, taking two huge scalps and earning six points. Carrick had gone three unbeaten in his 2021 stint as interim when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, and there is debate over whether he should be given the Manchester United job long term, similar to how Solskjaer moved from caretaker to permanent manager in 2019.

Roy Keane said: "I think if United win every game from now until the end of the season, I still wouldn't be giving him the job. I just think they need a bigger, more experienced manager. Simple as that." Gary Neville added: "I don’t believe he's the man to get Manchester United back winning league titles.

I think it's right that Michael Carrick keeps the job until the end of the season and hands the baton over to a Thomas Tuchel or a Carlo Ancelotti, someone of world class ilk. That's what his job is now." Rio Ferdinand pushed back on those criticisms, saying: "Michael Carrick's come in and turned the collar up on his long trench coat and said: 'Listen guys, get behind me, I'm gonna put you in a structure that's gonna actually suit the players that we have, we're gonna be hard to play against, we're gonna work hard, and we're gonna be a threat.