Manchester United are poised to announce their new interim head coach as early as today, with former midfielder Michael Carrick now the frontrunner for the role.
Carrick Leads the Race for Interim Role
The decision follows last week's dismissal of Ruben Amorim, with Darren Fletcher taking temporary charge for the matches against Burnley and Brighton. Club executives, including director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrarda, have conducted interviews with both Carrick and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before reaching their conclusion.
According to reports, Carrick held discussions on Thursday, while Solskjaer met with officials at the Carrington training ground over the weekend. The club is keen to make a swift appointment to allow the new interim boss maximum preparation time for the crucial Manchester derby this Saturday, where United host rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford in a 12.30pm Premier League kick-off.
A Daunting Task Awaits the New Boss
Should Carrick be confirmed, he will inherit a squad low on confidence and with limited avenues for success this season. The team has been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, meaning European qualification is now solely dependent on their league performance.
Outgoing caretaker Darren Fletcher painted a stark picture of the challenge ahead after Sunday's 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat to Brighton. He highlighted the fragile state of the playing squad and the urgent need to rebuild belief.
"You can see that the players are fragile and they need to build themselves up because it's up to them now – they have got to respond," Fletcher stated. "Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football. When you don't have confidence, you have to dig deep – and you have to battle, grind, fight, work, win games – and then the confidence comes back."
Fletcher Admits Uncertainty Over Future
The Scottish coach, who has a meeting scheduled at Carrington on Monday morning, admitted he has received no indication about the club's plans, having been fully focused on managing the last two games.
"I've had zero indication... It's a massive responsibility to lead this club, and I've gave it my best and ultimately I'm disappointed to not be able to win a game," he remarked. Fletcher expressed his deep disappointment for the club and players, emphasising that the focus must now be on helping the team recover its form.
The imminent appointment marks a critical juncture for Manchester United as they aim to stabilise their season and build momentum ahead of a pivotal fixture against their city rivals.
