If Manchester United wins a Champions League spot, the club's leadership will face a difficult problem in finding a replacement for Michael Carrick for the head coach position.
According to the latest prediction from Opta, Man United has a 85.57% chance of winning tickets to the Champions League next season. The club's board of directors still keeps their plans for the next season secret, but according to British media, they have not contacted any other potential candidates.
The general feeling is that the "Red Devils" do not need to rush to make decisions when the team is in high form. Carrick has won 23/30 maximum points, only lost 1 in the last 10 matches, helping Man United lead the Premier League performance table. This achievement also followed a wave of calls for his official appointment.
However, those in power at Old Trafford remain cautious. They will not make a decision until they fully believe Carrick is the right person to lead the club in the long term.
Thomas Tuchel's contract extension with the England national team and Carlo Ancelotti's expression of intention to continue to stick with the Brazilian national team further limit Man United's choice, while consolidating Carrick's position.
If deciding to appoint another coach, Man United will definitely aim for a name with experience and class, strong enough to withstand great pressure from the media and expectations at Old Trafford. Coaches like Ancelotti or Tuchel are therefore still considered ideal models.
History also forces M.U's leadership to be cautious. Nearly 7 years ago, Carrick was in the coaching staff of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when the Norwegian coach won 8 consecutive matches when he first took office.
Solskjaer was then officially appointed in March 2019, but only won 1 of the next 7 matches and finished the season in sixth place. However, he still helped Man United enter the top 3 of the Premier League for two consecutive seasons and reached the Europa League final.
Currently, Football Director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada are still maintaining a cautious approach, continuing to carefully assess all options before making a final decision.
The dramatic draw recently against Bournemouth not only left many regrets but also clearly exposed tactical loopholes that need to be overcome soon at Old Trafford.
Man United is entering one of the longest mid-season breaks in Premier League history, with 24 days without playing. This is a golden time for Carrick to sharpen his squad before the great battle with Leeds United on April 13.
We are in a favorable position and have achieved this position thanks to efforts, good results and impressive performances. Man United has made some progress. There are still things we can improve and become much better.
I am satisfied with what has been achieved, but we are still not satisfied. Certainly, we want to achieve even more success" - Carrick shared.
