Manchester United are in a big advantage in the race to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League after an impressive change in form since Michael Carrick took over the coaching bench to replace Ruben Amorim in January.
Since Carrick took over, Man United has won 19 out of a total of 24 maximum points in the Premier League, thereby rising to third place in the rankings. The "Red Devils" will host Aston Villa - the team currently in fourth place - at Old Trafford this weekend, with the goal of winning to consolidate their position in the top 5 race.
However, Carrick's future after the interim contract ends in May is still not guaranteed. Man United's board of directors has not yet made a final decision on who will lead the team for a long time, although Carrick is still on the candidate list. In parallel, the club is also carrying out transfer plans for the summer, regardless of who will be the next head coach.
Carrick impresses but is not sure to keep his seat
It is undeniable that Carrick has made a strong impression since being appointed on the 13th. 1. The former Man United midfielder started his term with two surprise victories against championship contenders Manchester City and Arsenal, before their impressive streak was ended by a 1-2 defeat in the last minute against Newcastle United.
Not only improving performance on the field, Carrick also creates sympathy within the club thanks to his calm demeanor and cautious media handling. Sources say the board appreciates his way of coping with pressure, which predecessors such as Erik ten Hag or Amorim sometimes faced difficulties.
However, Man United is still not in a hurry to award Carrick a long-term contract. The board of directors wants to conduct a thorough selection process, because they realize that Carrick's positive start may not last long.
Potential candidates for the hot seat at Old Trafford
According to sources, Thomas Tuchel's contract extension with the England national team and Carlo Ancelotti's ability to continue to stick with the Brazilian national team have greatly affected Man United's candidate list.
Man United's ideal criteria are a coach who has won the Premier League, Champions League or both - which Tuchel and Ancelotti both meet. In addition, the club also wants a strategist with excellent tactical vision, a criterion that Carrick has not yet completely convinced the board of directors.
In the context of the withdrawal of the two top candidates, the next potential coaching group includes Unai Emery of Aston Villa, Andoni Iraola of AFC Bournemouth, Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace, Roberto De Zerbi and Julian Nagelsmann.
Among these, Emery is considered the most prestigious candidate. However, the Spanish strategist's request to control all football activities - including transfer work - is considered inconsistent with Man United's collective management model. At Old Trafford, decisions are shared between Football Director Jason Wilcox, Transfer Director Christopher Vivell and CEO Omar Berrada.
