MICHAEL CARRICK could be set for a sensational return to Manchester United – and he would make an instant impact.
Sun Sport revealed that the legendary former Red Devils midfielder is among the caretaker options they could turn to if they axe head coach Ruben Amorim.
The club legend could take over if manager Ruben Amorim is shown the door[/caption]
Amorim retains the backing of the United hierarchy but the club are keeping an eye on Premier League coaches Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Fabian Hurzeler as they plot their next move.
The 44-year-old Carrick already has a taste of the Old Trafford hotseat.
That came in November and December 2021, when he oversaw two wins and a draw before he left ahead of Ralf Rangnick’s arrival as interim manager.
United great Carrick went onto manage Middlesbrough, reaching the play-offs and the Carabao Cup semi-final during his two-and-a-half years there before he was sacked by Championship side in the summer.
Due to Carrick being out of work, he has become one of the leading names on bookmakers’ chalkboards regarding who will be the next United manager.
And here’s three things that would instantly change if he got the job:
FOUR AT THE BACK
Amorim’s insistence on playing three at the back is well-publicised.
However, one of the first things Carrick would do will be to switch back to a four.
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That was his favoured backline throughout his tenure at the Riverside.
And it would be a dead cert he’d revert to type at United, especially given their recent struggles trying to play that way.
WINGERS
With the wing-backs ditched, the Red Devils icon would also go old-school in the attacking front.
Wingers were his thing at Boro, and having played alongside some of the greatest under Sir Alex Ferguson, he’d bring them back to the United side.
Part of Carrick’s downfall at the Riverside was when Ben Doak suffered in January last term, leaving his team without pace and trickery in attack.
And you could be certain that he wouldn’t be wasting the talents of Amad Diallo.
There’s only one instruction the Ivory Coast ace would be getting from Carrick – attack.
Amad Diallo could find a new lease of life being deployed further up the pitch[/caption]
ZIP IT
With each and every press conference, Amorim seems to put his foot in his mouth.
While some find it refreshing to have a manager speaking so honestly and open, many just want him to shut up.
That’s exactly what you’d get from Carrick.
Especially towards the end, the former England midfielder appeared to see each press conference as a chore rather than an opportunity to speak to fans.
Despite the scrutiny on his every word being intensified by a million per cent at United, he’s still streetwise enough to know not to give too much away.
And you wouldn’t find him, unlike Amorim, on the back pages for putting his foot in his mouth on a weekly basis and heaping more pressure on the club.
