Manchester United find themselves walking a familiar path as the club debates whether to hand Michael Carrick the permanent head‑coach role. The situation mirrors, almost eerily, the journey that Ole Gunnar Solskjær took to secure his full‑time appointment a few years ago.
Since Carrick stepped in for Rúben Amorim in mid‑January, United’s results have been impressive, yet questions about his long‑term suitability persist, many of which stem from direct comparisons with Solskjær. Carrick has brushed off those parallels as "irrelevant," but the narrative has already taken hold among fans and pundits. The key question remains: is the comparison fair? Solskjær oversaw 13 Premier League fixtures before being given the permanent job in 2019, having initially arrived from Molde as a caretaker.
Carrick has now matched that tally, prompting a side‑by‑side look at how the two interim periods compare. In terms of points, Solskjær holds a slight advantage, accumulating 32 points out of a possible 39 – three more than Carrick’s haul after the same number of games. His side also found the net 29 times, five more than United have under Carrick, while conceding three fewer goals. However, Solskjær’s run featured matches against all three clubs that eventually went down that season, and only four of his opponents finished in the top half of the table in 2018/19.
Carrick’s schedule has been tougher in a different way. Since taking over, his United have faced seven opponents that were positioned 10th or higher at the start of each weekend, and just one team currently languishing in the relegation zone. This tougher slate of fixtures makes a direct points‑per‑game comparison more nuanced. One of Solskjær’s standout moments 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 pulling off several crucial saves. Carrick, however, can claim an even more impressive pair of marquee results in his first two games: United defeated both Manchester City and Arsenal – the two strongest English sides at the time – in consecutive fixtures.
Those victories, followed by a win over Aston Villa (a club on a trajectory toward Champions League qualification), helped United solidify a third‑place league position. When Carrick dismissed the Solskjær comparisons, he argued that each manager operates under a unique set of circumstances, a point that holds considerable weight. Solskjær was juggling Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup commitments, whereas Carrick has enjoyed relatively spacious mid‑week breaks, including a 24‑day hiatus between league matches this season. Across all competitions, Solskjær oversaw 19 matches in 86 days, while Carrick has managed 13 games over a longer 101‑day span.
The quality of players available to each interim coach also warrants attention. Solskjær had access to the likes of Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata, Fred and Scott McTominay. Carrick, on the other hand, could call upon Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Manuel Ugarte, Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee, among others. The differing squads inevitably influenced tactical choices and results.
Looking purely at league position, Solskjær ranks among United’s most successful post‑Ferguson appointments, yet his legacy is clouded by criticism of his teams’ playing style. United under Solskjær often relied on individual brilliance rather than a coherent tactical identity, limiting their ability to challenge for major trophies. Carrick’s best displays have similarly emerged in games where the opposition dominated possession, allowing United to exploit counter‑attacking opportunities – a pattern evident in the wins over City and Arsenal.
Statistically, the two interim periods share several similarities. Carrick’s side averages more fast‑breaks per game, likely a by‑product of the tougher opposition they have faced. The most noticeable statistical divergence lies in headed goals, with United under Carrick scoring more from set‑pieces – a reflection of the current Premier League trend where dead‑ball situations are increasingly decisive. Understanding the context each manager inherited is crucial.
While both Amorim and José Mourinho share Portuguese nationality, their relationships with the squad differed markedly. Mourinho’s tenure was marred by a toxic atmosphere, public spats – notably with Paul Pogba – and a perception that he was detached from the dressing‑room, often conducting his affairs from the luxurious Lowry Hotel.
Solskjær arrived to repair that damage, injecting optimism into a demoralized camp. Amorim’s exit, however, was precipitated by a dramatic press conference in which he openly challenged director of football Jason Wilcox before being dismissed. Unlike Mourinho, Amorim’s issues were primarily with the club hierarchy rather than the players.
In his final eight matches, United lost only once and won three, a marked improvement over the club’s form at the start of his spell. The main tactical criticism of Amorim was his inexplicable reversion to a back‑three formation after a back‑four had delivered better results. Both Carrick and Solskjær were essentially handed a clean‑sheet: make simple adjustments to correct the flaws left by two stubborn predecessors. For Solskjær, it was about restoring positivity after Mourinho’s negativity; for Carrick, it boiled down to reverting to a back‑four to improve morale and defensive stability.
While Solskjær had to manage larger egos and a squad that eventually turned against him, Carrick must also contend with constant comparisons to his former boss and the lingering shadow of his own assistant‑coach days. In the end, deciding which interim audition was more successful depends on the metrics you prioritize – points per game, quality of opposition, tactical evolution, or the ability to inspire the squad amid adversity. Both men delivered memorable moments, and both have left United fans debating who truly earned the right to steer the club forward after their first 13 Premier League outings.