Berbatov urges patience over Carrick's Manchester United future

JAKARTA - Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has urged the club to remain patient with Michael Carrick despite the interim manager's impressive start to his career.

Berbatov, who won five titles while playing alongside Carrick at Manchester United between 2008 and 2012, warned against making a permanent appointment too early.

He compared the club's previous experience with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"Of course I'm a little biased because I've played with him (Carrick). I want him to get that job, but let's wait until the end of the season."

"If they continue like this, of course, why not? We've seen what happened before with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer."

"I think it's the same story, so don't rush to draw conclusions yet. Let's enjoy game by game how Manchester United is evolving."

"At the end of the season, we will wait and see what happens," Berbatov told ESPN.

Since Carrick's arrival, Manchester United have won four consecutive Premier League victories against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham, which has pushed the club into the top four and into the Champions League position.

"He (Carrick) is in this position to show that he is capable of doing these things. So far in the games we have seen, everything has gone well for the team and for him."

"Until the end of the season it will be a test and then we will see if Michael can get that job permanently," Berbatov said again.

Meanwhile, the former Bulgarian player attributed this sudden change in team performance to Carrick's extraordinary communication skills.

"I think he knows how to speak the right language to make Manchester United players feel valued, trust him, and then accept his ideas and implement them on the field."

"Obviously the manager is different and the system is different, but the most important thing, the players, are still the same."

"We can all see how they are playing now. They are playing with style, with confidence, with belief, and with arrogance when it is needed."

"You know, like a team and it's really fun to watch them at the moment," Berbatov said.

Manchester United will travel to West Ham United in the English League on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, early morning WIB, with the aim of winning five consecutive victories for the first time since 2024.