Has Manchester United found its Mr. Right in Michael Carrick? Premium

Is Michael Carrick the right choice for Manchester United's future after impressive wins over City and Arsenal as caretaker manager?

In early January, Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent Manchester United manager or head coach to be dismissed since the legendary Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. The sacking ended another chapter of woe for the club, which has declined since the Ferguson era.

When Michael Carrick, a vital cog during Ferguson’s glory years, was appointed on a caretaker basis, he looked to have been handed a baptism of fire. The former Red Devils midfielder, who returned to Old Trafford to manage a side that had won just once in seven matches, had to face Manchester City and Arsenal in the first two games of his reign.

Memorable results

But Carrick has delivered two memorable victories over the Premier League’s top two sides, sparking speculation over whether the 44-year-old deserves to remain in the role beyond the end of the season. He still has plenty to prove but could not have made a better start to his quest to bring Champions League football back to Old Trafford for the first time in three seasons.

United looked transformed during a 2-0 home win over Manchester City — Carrick’s first game in his second spell in temporary charge — producing a performance full of attacking verve. The victory seemed to banish the gloom at a stroke, United ripping Pep Guardiola’s title contender to shreds with the sort of swashbuckling football that has been ⁠beyond it for so long.

Instant buy-in: Carrick’s tactical vision and man-management have caught the eye. The players have responded swiftly to his ideas. | Photo Credit: Getty Images