Manchester United find themselves in a familiar crossroads as the club deliberates whether to hand Michael Carrick a permanent head‑coach role. The situation mirrors, almost eerily, the path that Ole Gunnar Solskjær walked to secure his full‑time appointment.
Since stepping in for Rúben Amorim in mid‑January, Carrick’s results have been impressive, yet questions about his long‑term suitability persist. Many of those doubts stem from inevitable comparisons with Solskjær, who also steadied the ship after a turbulent spell under a Portuguese manager.
Carrick has publicly dismissed the Solskjær parallels as "irrelevant," but such remarks are unlikely to silence a narrative that has already taken hold among fans and pundits. The key question remains: is the comparison fair? Solskjær oversaw 13 Premier League games before being handed the permanent job in 2019, having initially arrived from Molde as a caretaker. Carrick has now matched that tally, giving us a clean basis for a side‑by‑side assessment of their early tenures.
**Points and Goals** In pure points accumulation, Solskjær holds a slight edge, amassing 32 out of a possible 39 points – three more than Carrick’s 29. His United side also found the net 29 times, five more than the current squad under Carrick, while conceding three fewer goals. However, Solskjær’s run featured fixtures against all three teams that eventually went down that season, and only four matches were against clubs that finished in the top half of the table in 2018/19.
**Strength of Schedule** Carrick’s fixtures have, on average, been tougher. Since taking over, his United have faced seven opponents that were positioned 10th or higher at the start of each weekend, and just one club that was in the relegation zone. This tougher schedule partially explains the statistical gap in points and goals. **Signature Wins** Solskjær’s most notable league triumph came on the road, a 1‑0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur, who ended the season in fourth place.
Marcus Rashford’s precise finish, set up by a lofted pass from Paul Pogba, proved decisive, with David de Gea pulling off a crucial save to preserve the win. Carrick, however, can claim two marquee league wins in his first two games – beating the two teams widely regarded as England’s best, Manchester City and Arsenal, in consecutive fixtures.
Those victories showcased United’s capacity to execute swift counter‑attacks against possession‑heavy opponents. Carrick’s side also edged past Aston Villa, a club that is on track to secure Champions League qualification, thereby strengthening United’s own push for a top‑three finish.
**Contextual Differences** Both managers argue that their circumstances were unique, and there is merit to that claim. Solskjær had to juggle Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup commitments, often playing midweek matches that left little recovery time.
Carrick, by contrast, enjoyed relatively long breaks between league games – at one point United went 24 days without a match. When all competitions are considered, Solskjær’s résumé includes a memorable FA Cup victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and the iconic Champions League last‑16 comeback against Paris Saint‑Germain. In total, Solskjær oversaw 19 matches across 86 days, whereas Carrick has managed 13 games over a longer 101‑day span. **Player Pools** The personnel each manager could draw upon also shaped their auditions.
Solskjær had access to the likes of Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata, Fred and Scott McTominay. Carrick’s options included newer faces such as Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount (listed twice in the source but retained for emphasis), Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Manuel Ugarte, Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee. **Style and Legacy** From a purely league‑position perspective, Solskjær ranks among United’s most successful post‑Ferguson appointments. Yet his legacy is clouded by criticism of the team’s playing style.
United often relied on moments of individual brilliance rather than a cohesive tactical identity, limiting their ability to challenge for major trophies. Carrick’s best performances have similarly emerged against possession‑dominant sides, allowing United to exploit counter‑attack opportunities – a pattern evident in the wins over City and Arsenal. This similarity fuels the narrative that Carrick is merely a repeat of Solskjær, a notion not entirely implausible given his former role as Solskjær’s assistant. **Statistical Snapshot** A radar graphic comparing the two 13‑game stretches highlights a few key differences.
Carrick’s United register more fast‑breaks per game, likely a by‑product of the tougher schedule. The most striking disparity lies in headed goals, with United under Carrick scoring more from set‑pieces – a valuable asset in a Premier League where dead‑ball proficiency can be decisive. United currently sit among the league’s most effective teams in set‑piece scoring, trailing only Arsenal. **Inherited Situations** Understanding the environment each manager inherited is essential.
While both Rúben Amorim and José Mourinho share Portuguese nationality, their relationships with the squad differed markedly. Mourinho’s tenure was marred by a toxic atmosphere, highlighted by a public spat with Paul Pogba and reports of internal divisions. Solskjær stepped into that cauldron and was tasked with restoring positivity. Amorim’s exit was dramatic; he publicly challenged director of football Jason Wilcox before being dismissed.
Nonetheless, his departure was not accompanied by the same level of squad unrest that characterized Mourinho’s downfall. United had lost three of Mourinho’s final eight games before his sacking, whereas under Amorim the team lost only one of his last eight fixtures and won three. The primary criticism of Amorim was his inexplicable reversion to a back‑three formation after a back‑four had yielded better results. Carrick, learning from that misstep, has reverted to a back‑four, which appears to have lifted morale and performance levels.
**Final Thoughts** In many ways, both Carrick and Solskjær were handed a relatively open goal: make modest adjustments to correct the flaws left by two stubborn predecessors. Solskjær needed to inject optimism into a squad still reeling from Mourinho’s negativity, while Carrick simply had to restore a back‑four structure to revive confidence.
Solskjær can argue that he managed larger egos in a dressing room that eventually turned against him, whereas Carrick has had to endure constant comparisons to his former boss. The debate over which interim has delivered the stronger audition after 13 Premier League games remains open, inviting fans to cast their votes and decide who has earned the right to steer United’s future.