Jamie Carragher has declared there is "no doubt" that Michael Carrick will be appointed as the permanent manager of Manchester United, following a stunning transformation in the club's fortunes under his interim leadership.
Carrick's Impact Since Taking Over
Carrick guided United to a crucial 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday evening, moving the team to the verge of securing Champions League football next season after a year-long absence from European competition. Goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko put United in control, while Mathias Jensen pulled one back for Brentford, setting up a tense finale that United managed to see through.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "He's going to be Manchester United manager next season, no doubt about it. You can't say he doesn't deserve it. They have put together a run of results of a title winner, although they haven't had European football to contend with. I don't think anyone could have come in and done better results-wise. Performances haven't been great, but it's not a great Man Utd team, and he's still getting big results. The biggest criticism of Ruben Amorim was that he never adapted; Carrick has shown he can adapt."
Standing in the Premier League
The result keeps United in third place, 11 points clear of sixth-placed Brighton, and edging closer to securing a spot at Europe's top table. The Red Devils need just two more points from their remaining four games. If either Brighton or Bournemouth fail to win this weekend, United would be mathematically out of reach for those chasing sides.
Since Carrick took over from the sacked Ruben Amorim in January, United have won nine of their 13 top-flight matches, accumulating more points than any other team in the same period. The former United midfielder inherited a side sitting sixth in the table and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
Player Praise for Carrick
Defender Harry Maguire also paid tribute to the interim manager, stating: "We had two tough fixtures when Carrick came in against Arsenal and Man City, but we managed to get six points. Everyone's believed in it, and we've gathered together. We've got the confidence. We know that we can score goals from anywhere. I think we can still get a lot better at this formation as well. The results speak for themselves; since the manager has come in, and the formation has changed, we just seemed to pick up results. The games under Ruben Amorim which were 50-50 we'd always end up with a defeat, now it's the other way around. We're a lot better in both boxes."
United's remarkable turnaround under Carrick has silenced critics and put the club on the brink of a return to the Champions League, with the permanent job now seemingly within his grasp.
