The revolving door at Old Trafford is spinning faster than ever. Following the recent sacking of Ruben Amorim, Manchester United is reportedly set to name a new interim manager as early as today. While the rumor mill initially pointed toward a romantic return for club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a new frontrunner has emerged from the shadows: Michael Carrick.
The Race for the Interim Spot
The club’s leadership led by Director of Football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada hasn’t been wasting any time. Over the last few days, Carrington has hosted two very familiar faces for high-stakes interviews:
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Michael Carrick: The former Middlesbrough boss reportedly held talks on Thursday and is now considered the “leading contender.”
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: The fan favorite met with club chiefs over the weekend, but currently seems to be trailing Carrick in the race.
The urgency isn’t just about optics. United faces a massive test this Saturday: The Manchester Derby.
The board is desperate to have a leader in place quickly to give the squad at least a few days of preparation before facing Manchester City at 12:30 PM. Whoever takes the whistle will be inheriting a team at rock bottom. Following a disappointing 2-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton on Sunday, United’s season is hanging by a thread. With both domestic cups now out of reach, their only path to European football lies in a grueling climb up the Premier League table.
Darren Fletcher, who has been filling in as caretaker for matches against Burnley and Brighton, didn’t sugarcoat the situation. After Sunday’s loss, he described a locker room stripped of its spark.
“You can see that the players are fragile,” Fletcher admitted. “Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football. When you don’t have it, you have to dig deep you have to battle, grind, and fight.”
What’s Next for Fletcher?
Fletcher’s stint in the dugout appears to be over. Despite his best efforts to stabilize the ship, he admitted he has “zero indication” of what his future holds as he heads into a meeting at Carrington this morning.
While he expressed disappointment over the recent results, his focus remained on the badge rather than his own career: “I’ve had my time as a player… it’s all about them [the players] now. The club needs to help them, and they’re going to need to help themselves.” Will it be the tactical poise of Michael Carrick or the “DNA” of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? With the Manchester Derby looming and the season on the brink of collapse, United fans won’t have to wait long for an answer. Expect an announcement before the sun sets on Old Trafford today.
Who do you think is the right man to steady the ship? Let us know in the comments below!