Dwight Yorke has urged Manchester United to pay whatever it takes to bring Unai Emery to Old Trafford as manager, warning that interim boss Michael Carrick's position is increasingly fragile after nine games without a win.
Yorke backs Emery as the right choice
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former United striker said Emery was the man for the job even before Ruben Amorim was appointed in 2024 and believes the club should now act decisively.
“I have said this all along, and it baffles me when people are now jumping on the bandwagon,” Yorke said. “I said this two-and-a-half years ago. Unai Emery was the man to go and get way before Amorim has come into the equation.”
“And just like how, you go and spend £70million on players, I think Unai Emery, you can go and spend that money, I am not saying £70m, but pay whatever Villa has asked and get him. Give him the authority to come in.”
Yorke, who played for Villa from 1989 to 1998 before moving to United, said he faced criticism from Villa fans for his stance but still considers Emery the best manager in the business.
Carrick under pressure
United have two games before the next international break, hosting Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday and then facing Emery's Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday. If they lose both, it appears unlikely Carrick will remain in charge.
Yorke acknowledged the players are under-performing but said Carrick must take some blame for failing to turn things around.
“When things are good, which it was really good under Carrick when he first took over, football is easy,” he said. “The difference in management is when things are not so good. As a player when things are not so good, have you got the character to bounce back?”
“This is where we have seen Carrick is being let down. You need a reaction from your players. Whether the players are on board with you, are they going to fight for you? I’ve not seen that.”
Players must show character
Yorke said Carrick has shown his ability when results are good but has struggled to motivate the squad during the current downturn.
“We’ve seen Carrick in his element when things are really good. When things have not gone so well the manager’s job is trying to motivate the players, get them back to playing, showing some character, play with conviction, play with passion.”
“Even if you lose a football match, that’s fine. But if you lose football matches the way United have been losing football matches, I’m afraid that it does not look good.”
“You look at Tottenham, for instance, they were at the bottom and the manager somehow finds a way. You’ve got to find a way from your players and I’m not seeing that with Carrick.”
“This is the time as a manager when you’ve got to earn your coin and he’s not really doing that at the moment.”
