Michael Carrick has significantly closed the gap on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the contest to become Manchester United's interim manager, though the Norwegian former boss remains the narrow favourite for the role.
Executive Decision Pending Face-to-Face Interviews
The crucial decision now rests with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. The club's executives will not make a final appointment until they have conducted in-person interviews with both candidates. These meetings are scheduled to take place on Thursday, with the possibility of extending into Friday if necessary.
This deliberation follows a 2-2 draw away at Burnley on Wednesday, a match overseen by the current temporary manager, Darren Fletcher. Despite United dominating with 30 shots to Burnley's seven, they were held to a draw, with Fletcher pointing to a disallowed goal and a goal-line clearance.
Fletcher Confirmed for FA Cup Duty
In the interim, Darren Fletcher has confirmed he will remain in charge for the upcoming FA Cup fixture. The Scot will lead the team at Old Trafford on Sunday when Manchester United face Brighton.
"They've informed me they'd like me to take the team for Sunday," Fletcher stated after the Burnley match. "There was a feeling that might have been the case from Monday, but we wanted to focus on Burnley. I'm tasked with leading the team on Sunday, so all my focus and energy goes to that now."
Potential Reunion of Former Colleagues
Should the executive team opt for Solskjaer, it would mark a remarkable second stint as caretaker manager for the Norwegian, who previously held the role from December 2018 to March 2019 before being appointed permanently.
Intriguingly, if Solskjaer returns, it is believed Michael Carrick would consider serving as his assistant, reprising a partnership from their past. Carrick previously worked as Solskjaer's number two after the latter's temporary position was made permanent in late March 2019.
Carrick himself has brief experience in the Old Trafford hot seat, taking charge for three matches following Solskjaer's sacking in November 2021. He oversaw two victories and one draw during that short spell.
Reflecting on the performance at Turf Moor, Fletcher found positives despite the dropped points. "They put in a performance that should win the match," he said. "We created a lot of chances... It wasn't perfect, but there were lots of good things within that." The club now awaits a decisive move from its leadership as it seeks stability for the remainder of the season.
