Manchester United doesn't need Carrick – Gary Neville

 

 

Manchester United legend, Gary Neville has cautioned the club against making Michael Carrick their next permanent manager, despite the team’s impressive revival under the former midfielder.

Carrick, 44, stepped in following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January and has overseen a dramatic turnaround in fortunes. United have won five of their last six Premier League matches, reigniting their push for Champions League qualification. The run includes notable victories over title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal.

Most recently, United secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Benjamin Sesko coming off the bench to score the decisive goal and lift the club back into the top four.

However, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Neville warned that the club must avoid repeating past mistakes by appointing another inexperienced coach.

 

“Manchester United have to pursue another manager right now,” Neville said. “You don’t know how results will go, and the club needs to plan properly.”

Neville pointed to United’s recent history of hiring former players or relatively untested managers, referencing the tenure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as an example that ultimately fell short.

“If he gets United into the Champions League, there’ll be a lot of excitement about giving him the job,” Neville added. “I’m not against him — I love him to bits. But United should go for the best-in-class manager available. Removing as much risk as possible is the right approach.”

He also noted that options in the managerial market may be narrowing, mentioning that Thomas Tuchel’s renewed commitment to England reduces the pool of elite candidates.

Neville revealed he has spoken directly with club officials about their plans. According to him, United have already begun evaluating potential managerial targets but will not rush into an appointment based solely on short-term results. The club intends to wait until closer to the end of the season before making a final decision.

Despite his reservations about a permanent role, Neville believes Carrick can guide United back to Europe’s top competition this season. With no European fixtures to distract them, he suggested United could even climb as high as third place, especially as rivals such as Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool juggle continental commitments.

“They’re winning when they play well and when they don’t,” Neville said. “The players look confident. All the right signs are there.”

For now, Carrick’s resurgence has restored optimism at Old Trafford — but whether it translates into a long-term appointment remains uncertain.