Carrick Confident in Handling Manchester United Pressure Amid Pending Decision

The role of Manchester United manager has become an almost impossible task. Since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, six managers have attempted to fill his shoes, but all have ultimately succumbed to the immense pressure. This summer, a seventh manager will be chosen, and Michael Carrick appears to be the front-runner for the position. Having won seven of his 10 games since January and guiding United to third place in the Premier League, Carrick has significantly increased the team's chances of returning to the Champions League. A top-five finish would now be a surprise if it didn't secure the deal. It's challenging to pinpoint the exact characteristics required to succeed at United, as the club has tried various approaches. They've had serial winners like Jose Mourinho, experienced hands like Louis van Gaal, and project managers like Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. Carrick, on the other hand, falls into the 'United DNA' category, which is similar to the approach taken by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Although Solskjaer had his deficiencies, he navigated the scrutiny at Old Trafford better than most, a trait that Carrick seems to share. "There are aspects of being Manchester United manager 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 level of support, and the scrutiny become normal after a while. It doesn't feel as big as it probably looks from the outside for me personally." This is likely the closest Carrick will get to making a public pitch for the job, and it's a compelling one. While many coaches have better resumes, how many can claim to know how to manage the level of pressure that comes with the role? There are parallels between United's player recruitment problems and the pressure on the manager. It doesn't matter how skilled a player is if they can't handle the scrutiny. Harry Maguire, who has experienced the challenges of playing for United, can attest to this. "I've seen 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 analysis, and the criticism can be overwhelming. Every goal conceded is someone's fault, and ex-players will always have an opinion. That's just part of playing for this club." This level of scrutiny 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 until the end of the season. Carrick is the only candidate they've spoken to so far, which can only be seen as a positive for his chances. While the head coach position remains uncertain, decisions are being made about United's future, and Carrick has been involved in these discussions. Maguire has signed a new one-year contract, and Casemiro has announced his departure at the end of the season. Carrick says discussions are taking place about how to replace the Brazilian international. "It's no secret what we need going into next season," he says, hinting at United's plans to sign at least one top midfielder this summer. Replacing Casemiro will be a challenging task for United. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a renaissance in his final season, scoring seven goals, and Carrick believes the clarity over his future has helped him "make the most of what's left." When asked if he'd like clarity on his own future, Carrick says, "I understand the situation and 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 about doing the best job I can and planning for the future, the good of the club, and the players in the squad. I'm not just trying to get to the end of the season and deal with what's next." If Carrick does get the job, the pressure will increase significantly. United has set an ambitious goal of winning the Premier League by 2028, giving them two summer transfer windows to build a squad capable of lifting the title. United hasn't won the Premier League since 2013, in Sir Alex's final season. The closest they've come was under Solskjaer, finishing second to Manchester City in 2020/21 by 14 points. The jury is still 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 a long time 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's 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?