Aaron Wan-Bissaka Advocates for Michael Carrick as Manchester United's Permanent Manager
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has publicly endorsed Michael Carrick for the permanent managerial position at Manchester United, while candidly revealing the profound mental challenges he faced during Erik ten Hag's confusing reign at Old Trafford. The former United defender, now at West Ham, spoke extensively about his turbulent time with the club, highlighting Carrick's positive influence and the psychological toll of Ten Hag's mixed messages.
From Crystal Palace to Manchester United: A £50 Million Move
Wan-Bissaka joined Manchester United in 2019 in a transfer deal that could reach £50 million, following his impressive breakthrough at Crystal Palace. During his five-year tenure at Old Trafford, the right-back made 190 appearances but encountered significant personal and professional difficulties before his eventual departure to West Ham in 2024. At just 21 years old upon arrival, the DR Congo international found the separation from his family in London particularly challenging, a factor that exacerbated his struggles.
The Managerial Carousel and Wan-Bissaka's Declining Role
The full-back praised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's man-management skills but noted he failed to establish a similar rapport with interim manager Ralf Rangnick or his successor, Erik ten Hag. Carrick's brief stint as caretaker boss after Solskjaer's exit in November 2021 left a lasting positive impression on Wan-Bissaka, who has now urged United to appoint him permanently following five victories from six matches since Carrick's return to the touchline.
"He's someone you can trust," Wan-Bissaka told the Daily Mail. "He will also trust you back if you buy into him and what he's looking to do. If you trust him, he will trust you. He was quite straightforward in what he expected from you. The lads were content with him and the matches he oversaw when he was the manager. With him back at the club now, they are in a good place as a team. I think he should be given the full-time role. I think he deserves it."
Mental Anguish Under Erik ten Hag's Confusing Tenure
Subsequent managerial changes at Manchester United led to a diminished role for Wan-Bissaka, who reflected on the psychological difficulty of being unable to leave despite falling out of favour under Ten Hag. "It was difficult when Erik ten Hag arrived - as soon as he did, he told me I wasn't in his plans," Wan-Bissaka explained. "But when I tried to leave, he said he didn't want me to go. I couldn't understand it. That was tough mentally, because it left me wondering what I was supposed to do next."
The defender described maintaining motivation as a severe challenge, particularly when training without a clear pathway to playing time. "I just kept my head down and told myself to keep training, keep improving, and play my game. Staying motivated was hard though, especially when you're training without the clear goal of playing. But the people around me guided me in the right way and encouraged me to keep going. Eventually things turned around and started to improve. You could say I changed or developed tactically under him, because that was something he wanted."
The Loneliness of Life in Manchester and Daily Commutes to London
The conflicting signals throughout Ten Hag's tenure did little to alleviate Wan-Bissaka's isolation at the club. The right-back regularly commuted back to London after United training sessions, revealing feelings of being cut off from his support network. "When I moved to United, I really missed home, my family and friends especially," he admitted. "After training, I used to take the train back to London almost every day. It’s only about two hours, but it’s still a big commitment, and eventually it became exhausting, so I knew I had to stop."
Wan-Bissaka described the abrupt transition from his comfortable London life as particularly jarring. "It was something I wasn’t used to at all. I’d always been comfortable at home in London, surrounded by familiar people and places, so for everything to change overnight was difficult to adapt to. Most days I’d just be at home alone, playing PlayStation until it was time to sleep. I struggled. It was probably the lowest I’d felt."
This heartfelt account from Wan-Bissaka underscores not only his endorsement of Carrick's managerial capabilities but also the profound personal sacrifices and mental resilience required at the highest levels of professional football.
