Jamie Carragher has said it would be "ludicrous" for Manchester United to sack Michael Carrick, even though he does not see the former midfielder as a long-term solution to the club's problems.
Pressure at Old Trafford
Carrick is under pressure at Old Trafford after winning just one of five Premier League matches and being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton. United sit 12th in the table after needing a late equaliser to claim a point at Fulham before the international break.
Carragher provoked a reaction from United fans with a Telegraph column two weeks ago claiming Carrick "would never have been approached by another elite club" with his CV. The former Liverpool defender was accused of being disrespectful to the United boss, who landed the job after making a huge impact as interim manager following Ruben Amorim's sacking.
Carragher's Clarification
Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher stressed Carrick is the right man for the time being, even if United should try to upgrade at the end of the season.
"I did a newspaper column a couple of weeks ago on Michael Carrick and, like always happens, nobody really reads the column, the read the headline and it was seen as though I was having a go at him when it was actually the opposite," he said.
"I think it would be ludicrous to get rid of Michael Carrick. Maybe this is where people think I'm having a go at him. In my mind I don't see Michael Carrick as the Man United manager. I feel like he's in there doing a job for the club to get them through a rocky period and then almost to pass on the baton."
Champions League Ambitions
Carragher added that Carrick's results have been "unbelievable" since taking the job, including guiding United into the Champions League, which brings in money. He argued United need another season of securing Champions League qualification before considering a top manager.
"They need another season of just making it straight in the Champions League. That's the way I see it. And then it would be the case of [getting] one of the top managers about who could manage a club of that level. I don't like the idea of changing Michael Carrick now or in the next international break - it just needs to be relaxed," he said.
United are next in action on October 10 against Tottenham, followed by a Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid and an away fixture at Leeds.
