Former Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has expressed concerns about Michael Carrick's interim tenure at Old Trafford, as the club prepares to appoint a permanent manager this summer. Scholes' past managerial favourite, Ralph Hasenhuttl, is likely to have spent over a year away from football management by the time United finalise their decision.
Scholes' Social Media Critique of Carrick's Start
Scholes took to social media to comment on Carrick's early struggles, posting: "Michael has definitely got something special about him...cos Utd have been c*** last four games...night." This followed United's first defeat under Carrick against a ten-man Newcastle side. Despite collecting seven points from those four matches, United required a late Benjamin Sesko equaliser against West Ham and delivered unconvincing narrow victories over Everton and Crystal Palace.
Carrick's Path to Permanent Appointment
Carrick could still secure the permanent managerial role if he guides United successfully through the remainder of the season. Currently occupying third place in the Premier League table, United are just three points ahead of Liverpool in sixth. Should Carrick secure Champions League qualification, the board may find it impossible to overlook him for the position.
Hasenhuttl's Diminished Prospects
Numerous candidates have been linked with the United job, though high-profile names like Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti have removed themselves from contention by signing contract extensions with their current national teams. Ralph Hasenhuttl, however, remains available but has seen his managerial stock decline significantly since Scholes first praised him.
During the 2021/22 season when Ralf Rangnick served as United's interim manager, Scholes advocated for Hasenhuttl's appointment after watching his Southampton team secure a draw at Old Trafford. Speaking as a pundit on BT Sport (now TNT Sports), Scholes highlighted the working relationship between Rangnick and Hasenhuttl from their RB Leipzig days.
Scholes' Original Endorsement of Hasenhuttl
"I've always thought the football he plays at Southampton with not the best squad. The type of football has worked for them," Scholes stated. "His teams have been good to watch; I think it comes across really well. This would be a different kind of pressure; I think people around this club, and fans especially, are thinking more of possibly [Mauricio] Pochettino or an Antonio Conte and what people have been at the bigger clubs. The more I think about it, I don't think it would be a bad thing. The way he goes about his business, he looks good."
Hasenhuttl's Career Decline
At the time of Scholes' endorsement, Hasenhuttl's Southampton sat tenth in the Premier League, but they finished the season in fifteenth position. The Austrian was eventually dismissed following a disastrous start to the 2022/23 campaign that left Southampton facing relegation, which ultimately occurred under Ruben Selles after Nathan Jones' brief tenure.
Hasenhuttl took a year-long break from management before joining Wolfsburg in March 2024. He successfully kept the German club in the Bundesliga, earning twelve points from eight matches, but was dismissed in May 2025 with just two games remaining in his first full season.
Recent Managerial Links
More recently, Hasenhuttl has been connected with positions at considerably smaller clubs. He was touted for a Southampton return following Will Still's dismissal last autumn and emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Marti Cifuentes at Leicester City, though the Foxes ultimately appointed Gary Rowett instead.
As Manchester United's summer decision approaches, Hasenhuttl's extended period without managerial employment contrasts sharply with Scholes' earlier endorsement, highlighting how quickly fortunes can change in football management.
