Michael Carrick has laughed off comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson after Manchester United's midweek Champions League comeback, while former Premier League defender William Gallas has warned the club against appointing Antonio Conte.
Carrick, appointed permanently in the summer, is under pressure with United on a run of seven league games without a win and sitting 17th in the Premier League table, out of the relegation zone only on goal difference. Conte, the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager, is among the names linked with the Old Trafford hot seat after leaving Napoli in the summer.
Roma fightback eases pressure
The pressure on Carrick eased somewhat after United recovered from 2-0 down to beat AS Roma 3-2 in the Champions League. The result prompted comparisons to the FA Cup third-round victory over Nottingham Forest in January 1990, which ultimately saved Ferguson's position.
Carrick dismissed suggestions that history could be repeating itself. "It's up to us to take it forward," he said. "As a one-off night, it was a fantastic night. I thought we played really, really well and deserved the game. It was nice to end like that. It was nice for the supporters to end like that and to have that feeling."
"Nothing's done yet. Nothing's achieved yet, and it's one moment in time that we need to use to move forward. But we need more of it, for sure."
Carrick on long-term ambitions
He is, though, not ruling out the prospect of replicating the achievements Ferguson enjoyed at Old Trafford after that victory. "It's not impossible," he added. "Anything's possible."
"You've got to build, you've got to be realistic. You've got to put things in perspective as well. The recent history that we've had and what we're trying to get to, it's not going to happen overnight."
"Success does take time, and we don't like having to spend time, but it does take a period of time to build. There are no shortcuts to it. In the end, that's where you get to, but it's definitely possible."
Gallas warns over Conte
Speaking to SeatPick, Gallas issued a caution to United regarding a possible appointment of Conte, instead suggesting attention should be on implementing alterations elsewhere at the club.
"I don't know if Antonio Conte can fix Manchester United because from what I understand now the players in that dressing room are completely different from the players 10, 15 or 20 years ago," he said.
"If you bring in Antonio Conte, you know he has a big personality. You know he will ask his players to adapt to his system, but I don't know if the players at Manchester United can do this."
"It's a different generation. Now you have to adapt to the players at this club, not just the players adapting to you. It has to be a compromise. Before, it used to be that the players had to adapt to the manager. Nobody said anything. They had great results. Now life has changed."
"A manager like Conte would have to understand that 'OK I have to adapt to this new generation, and if I do that, at the same time, I will need them to adapt to what I want from them,' and that's why you have to be sure about what you are going into. Manchester United also have to be sure about the manager they are bringing in because the message has to make sense and be understood by the players in the dressing room. Otherwise it will be the same problem again and again."
"Ultimately, the problem with United is the players that they've brought to the club because they aren't at the level to play for Manchester United. With all the respect I have for other clubs, Manchester United are not Coventry City. They are not Crystal Palace. We are talking about Manchester United."
"They should only be signing the best players to play for the club but time and time again they have made big mistakes. Antonio Conte cannot change that. No manager can. You have to look higher up at the club first."
United are back in Premier League action on Sunday when they host Aston Villa at Old Trafford, with Villa manager Unai Emery another name said to be interesting United.
