Carrick Confident in Handling Manchester United's Pressure as Key Decision Approaches

The role of Manchester United manager has become an unattainable goal. Six individuals have followed in Sir Alex Ferguson's footsteps, with all of them ultimately succumbing to the pressure. This summer, a seventh person will be chosen, and it appears that Michael Carrick is on track to fill this position. By winning seven of his 10 games since January and propelling United to third place in the Premier League, Carrick has increased the likelihood of a Champions League return. It would now be unexpected if a top-five finish did not secure the deal. The characteristics required for success at United are difficult to pinpoint. They have explored nearly every avenue. Jose Mourinho was a serial winner, while Louis van Gaal was an experienced hand. Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim were project managers. Carrick falls into the 'United DNA' category, which is similar to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer camp and carries its own set of challenges. Solskjaer's shortcomings were evident, but he navigated the scrutiny at Old Trafford more effectively than most, a trait that Carrick appears to share. 'There are aspects of being the Manchester United manager – and I'm not being casual when I say it – that I've known for a long time,' Carrick tells Sky Sports' Roman Kemp at United's training camp in Dublin. 'The pressure is something I've lived with for a long time. What's expected here, how to achieve things, the amount of support we have, and the scrutiny become normal after a while.' This is likely the closest Carrick will come to making a public pitch for the job, and it's a compelling one. Many coaches have a better resume, but how many can claim to know how to manage that level of pressure? There are parallels with United's player recruitment problems. It doesn't matter how skilled you are if the scrutiny is too much. There are plenty of examples of this. Harry Maguire, who has experienced the challenges at Old Trafford, is well-placed to explain. 'I see many players join this club, and to be honest, it's just too big for them,' the 33-year-old defender told journalists in Dublin. 'The attention, the scrutiny, the analysis – every goal that goes in is someone's fault. There will be ex-players speaking about it. That's just part of playing for this club.' This would only intensify for the person in the dugout. United is not rushing the decision on their next head coach, and a final call is not expected to be made until the end of the season. Carrick is the only candidate they have spoken to so far, which can only be seen as a positive for his chances. The head coach position remains uncertain, but decisions are being made about United's future, and Carrick has been a part of that. Maguire has signed a new one-year contract, while Casemiro has announced he will leave at the end of the season. Carrick says discussions are taking place about how United will replace the Brazilian international. 'It's no secret what we need going into next season,' he says, alluding to United's plans to sign at least one top midfielder this summer. It will be challenging for United to fill the gap Casemiro will leave. The 34-year-old has experienced a resurgence in his final season at Old Trafford, scoring seven goals, and Carrick says the clarity over his future has helped Casemiro 'make the most of what's left.' When asked if he would like some clarity on his own future, Carrick says: 'I understand the situation, and where we were at when we came back in January, the plan for the rest of the season and the possibilities in the summer. I don't think that's changed. Things will get sorted when they get sorted. For me, it's just about doing the best job that we can and plan for the future and the good of the club and the players in the squad. I am not coming to get through to the end of the season and deal with what's next. I think it's essential we make a plan and follow that through for the squad to get stronger. If I am part of it, then I am part of it. If not, then that is the situation I walked into.' If Carrick does get the job, the pressure would increase even more. United has set an ambitious goal of winning the Premier League by 2028, which gives them two summer transfer windows to build a squad capable of lifting the title. United has not achieved this since 2013 in Sir Alex's final season. The closest they have come was under Solskjaer, finishing second to Manchester City in 2020/21 by 14 points. The jury remains out on Carrick's credentials to take United back to those heights, but his appointment would raise the possibility of an Englishman winning the Premier League for the first time. 'I'd love that to be the case,' says Carrick. 'At some point, you'd like to think it would happen. For whatever reason, it hasn't. Timing is important. We had a manager here for quite a period who was definitely not English but hugely successful. If it got to the stage and that was me, that would be amazing. That's got to be the goal at some point for this football club, to be back to winning league titles. It is where we want to be.' Carrick has steadied the ship and knows the pressure that comes with being at United. But will that be enough for him to achieve what is required to truly be considered a success at Old Trafford if he gets the job long-term?