With Manchester United virtually assured of a Champions League spot for the upcoming season, Michael Carrick has made a compelling case for the head coach position in the long term. However, the club's hierarchy is adopting a cautious approach, with a decision unlikely to be made before the current campaign concludes.
United's leadership will engage in a thorough recruitment process, conduct due diligence, and make strategic decisions before appointing a new manager. Although they may have informally explored other options through intermediaries, no formal meetings have taken place yet, with plans to wait until the end of the season. Under Carrick's guidance, United has a 11-point cushion over sixth place in the Premier League, with 12 points remaining to be contested. His primary objective was to secure European football, and it would require a remarkable collapse to miss out.
The message emanating from Carrington is to avoid distractions until the season is complete, with pivotal matches against Liverpool and other teams still to come. The decision to part ways with Ruben Amorim in January was deemed correct, given the team's current standing.
United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, had grown frustrated with Amorim's inflexible tactics, which were evident in the 2-1 victory over Brentford. Carrick responded by switching to a back-three formation, tightening up the midfield, and limiting the opposition's scoring opportunities in the second half.
This tactical adjustment will have impressed the club's hierarchy, but it does not guarantee his appointment as the long-term manager. Carrick boasts an impressive points-per-game and goals-per-game ratio since the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and his ability to galvanize the squad and handle the media has been noteworthy. The players have also expressed their support for him in recent weeks, which is a significant factor.
Appointing Carrick would facilitate a seamless transition, making pre-season planning, transfer discussions, and strategic preparation for the next season more straightforward. Nevertheless, the club's bosses are aware that Carrick has had limited time in charge and that this season is unusual due to the absence of European football and early exits from domestic cup competitions.
This has allowed him to focus on one game per week, with ample time to work with the players on the training pitch. The squad will inevitably face more challenges next season, regardless of who is in charge. United's hierarchy is in a difficult position, as appointing Carrick and experiencing a decline in results next season could lead to criticism, while bypassing him for a high-profile manager could also be met with disapproval if the new manager fails to deliver. The reality is that, while Carrick has performed admirably, the club's other options have diminished, with prominent coaches like Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel, and Luis Enrique having committed to other roles.
Carrick is currently in pole position, and few could argue that he does not deserve the opportunity. However, the new, methodical Manchester United will not rush into a decision, instead opting for a cautious and meticulous approach to avoid past mistakes.