Manchester United find themselves in a familiar crossroads as the club debates whether to hand Michael Carrick the full‑time managerial role. The situation mirrors the path Ole Gunnar Solskjær walked to secure his permanent appointment, prompting endless comparisons between the two.
While Carrick has brushed off the parallels as "irrelevant," the narrative persists, and it’s worth asking whether the comparison holds any water. Solskjær arrived at Old Trafford in 2018 as a caretaker after the turbulent spell under Portuguese boss José Mourinho. After a 13‑game spell in charge, he was rewarded with a permanent contract in 2019. Carrick, who took over from interim manager Rúben Amorim in mid‑January, has now overseen the same number of league fixtures.
To gauge their respective auditions, we examined the data from each 13‑match stretch. In pure points terms Solskjær still has the edge. The Norwegian guided United to 32 points out of a possible 39, three more than Carrick’s tally of 29. His side also found the net 29 times, five more goals than the current United team under Carrick, while conceding three fewer goals.
However, Solskjær’s run came against a relatively soft schedule – three of those games were versus the clubs that would eventually be relegated, and only four were against top‑half finishers from the 2018/19 season. Carrick’s fixtures have been tougher.
Since taking over, United have faced seven opponents that were positioned in the top ten at the start of each weekend, and only one opponent has been fighting relegation. This tougher slate partly explains why his goal output is lower, but it also highlights the quality of the opposition his side have managed to beat.
The most striking result of Solskjær’s tenure was a 1‑0 away victory at Tottenham Hotspur, then managed by Mauricio Pochettino and ultimately finishing fourth. Marcus Rashford’s precise finish, set up by a lofted pass from Paul Pogba, secured the win, with David de Gea making crucial saves. In contrast, Carrick’s early impact includes two marquee victories against the league’s elite – a 2‑1 triumph over Manchester City followed by a 2‑0 win at Arsenal. Those back‑to‑back performances against the two best English clubs underscore Carrick’s ability to rise to big occasions.
Carrick also steered United to a 2‑1 win over Aston Villa, a side that is on course for Champions League qualification. That result helped United solidify a third‑place position in the table.
While Solskjær also enjoyed notable successes in cup competitions – a famous comeback win over Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League round of 16 and a victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup – his league record still falls short of Carrick’s when the strength of opposition is taken into account. It is essential to remember that the two managers operated under very different circumstances. Solskjær had to juggle Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League fixtures, often playing mid‑week games that taxed his squad.
Carrick, by contrast, enjoyed several weeks of rest between league matches; at one point United went 24 days without a game. Over the same period, Solskjær oversaw 19 matches in 86 days, while Carrick managed 13 matches across 101 days. The tools each manager had at their disposal also varied.
Solskjær could call upon players such as Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata, Fred and Scott McTominay. Carrick’s options have included newer faces like Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Manuel Ugarte, Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee. The differing personnel pools inevitably influence tactics and results.
From a broader perspective, Solskjær is often regarded as one of United’s most successful post‑Ferguson appointments in terms of league position. Yet his legacy is clouded by criticism of his teams’ playing style. United under Solskjær frequently relied on moments of individual brilliance rather than a coherent, possession‑based system, limiting their ability to compete for major trophies.
Carrick’s best displays have also come when United have faced opponents expected to dominate possession, allowing his side to exploit counter‑attacking opportunities – a pattern evident in the wins over City and Arsenal. This similarity fuels the narrative that Carrick is simply a repeat of Solskjær, a notion reinforced by his former role as Solskjær’s assistant.
Statistically, the two 13‑game spells show clear parallels. Carrick’s United have averaged more fast‑breaks per game, likely a product of their tougher schedule. The most noticeable divergence lies in headed goals – United have been prolific from set‑pieces, ranking among the Premier League’s most effective dead‑ball teams, second only to Arsenal.
Understanding the context each manager inherited is also crucial. While both José Mourinho and Rúben Amorim share Portuguese nationality, their relationships with the squad differed dramatically. Mourinho left a toxic atmosphere, highlighted by a public spat with Paul Pogba and reports of internal divisions.
Solskjær inherited that negativity and worked to restore confidence. Amorim’s departure was dramatic; he publicly challenged director of football Jason Wilcox before being dismissed.
However, his exit did not appear to stem from a loss of dressing‑room control, unlike Mourinho’s downfall. United had lost three of Mourinho’s last eight games before his sacking, whereas Amorim’s final eight featured only one loss and three wins, though his tactical shift back to a back three after previously finding success with a back four raised questions.
In many ways both interim managers were handed relatively straightforward tasks: Solskjær needed to inject optimism into a squad demoralised by Mourinho, while Carrick simply had to revert to a back‑four formation to improve morale and solidity. Both succeeded to varying degrees, but each also faced unique challenges – Solskjær with larger egos and higher expectations, Carrick with relentless comparisons to his former boss. Ultimately, the debate over who delivered the stronger audition after 13 Premier League games hinges on what metrics one prioritises – raw points, quality of opposition, style of play, or the broader narrative.
The data suggests Carrick has performed admirably against tougher opponents, while Solskjær amassed more points against a softer schedule. Fans and the board must decide which set of achievements aligns best with United’s long‑term ambitions.