Although almost certain to win a ticket to the UEFA Champions League next season, Manchester United is still not in a hurry to make a decision about the long-term future of interim coach Michael Carrick.
Carrick has done everything to score points since taking over the team, but Man United's board of directors chose caution. The official appointment decision is likely only made after the season ends, in the context that the club wants to carry out a thorough selection and appraisal process.
Although they may have surveyed some candidates through intermediaries, Man United has not yet held any official negotiations. The point at Carrington is not to let non-professional issues affect the crucial stage of the season.
Under Carrick's leadership, the "Red Devils" are creating a significant gap in the top race in the Premier League. When he took over in January, the only goal was to win a Champions League spot, and the team is going in the right direction.
However, there are still big challenges ahead, especially the confrontation with Liverpool at Old Trafford, in the context that Man United can still finish the season in many different positions in the rankings.
The appointment of Ruben Amorim before was considered a mistake, but the decision to leave him in January helped the team avoid the risk of a deeper decline. Amorim's tactical inflexibility once caused Man United many difficulties, typically the lack of control against Brentford.
Carrick quickly made his mark with reasonable adjustments. In the win against Brentford, he switched to a 3-defender formation after the break, tightened the midfield and controlled the game better in the second half. Although the playing style became pragmatic, the effective result was 3 full points.
Not only improving his performance, Carrick also impressed with his ability to manage the dressing room and communication. He received clear support from the players, while maintaining impressive scoring and scoring performance - the highest since Sir Alex Ferguson's time.
However, M.U's leadership is still considering carefully. Carrick has only led the team for a short time, and the current success partly comes from a favorable schedule. They do not have to share strength for cup competitions and do not have a midweek schedule.
The problem posed is not simple. If Carrick is appointed and the result is a decline next season, Man United may be criticized for repeating the mistake that once happened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Conversely, if choosing another name, any failure will also make this decision questionable.
In the context that top candidates such as Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique are no longer available, Carrick is emerging as the most feasible option.
However, Man United under the new governance model will not make hasty decisions. Inside Carrington, satisfaction with the present comes with the determination to avoid repeating past mistakes - which shows that Carrick's future, although bright, is still not completely guaranteed.
