Michael Carrick Not Pursuing Status as Permanent Manager at Man Utd

JAKARTA - Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick is not interested in pursuing a permanent status despite successfully raising the team's performance. Carrick is focused on bringing Man Utd back to the Champions League next season and aiming for three points when they host Brentford, Tuesday, April 28, 2026 early morning WIB.

Carrick is only a temporary manager, replacing Ruben Amorim who was fired in the middle of the competition. Unlike before when Carrick was given the task of playing two Man Utd matches, this time he is handling the team until the end of the competition season.

He was also not promised by the management that he would be made permanent if he managed to save Man Utd by winning a ticket to the Champions League. Even though he only got the task until the end of the season, it turned out that Carrick was able to make improvements.

The Red Devils' transformation is so real by conquering top teams, Manchester City, Arsenal to Chelsea. Captain Bruno Fernandes seems to be excited again to lead his teammates. Veteran midfielder Casemiro also showed the best performance so that there is an insistence that his contract be extended for another year.

Likewise, striker Benjamin Sesko has found sharpness and Kobbie Mainoo has expressed commitment at Man Utd. Carrick not only restored the morale and confidence of the players but also brought Man Utd into the Champions League zone.

Even the team is already perched in third place behind Man City and Arsenal. Man Utd has also only lost once during the former defensive midfielder era under Sir Alex Ferguson's leadership.

Carrick's success in overhauling Man Utd has made him a contender to remain in charge of the team next season.

Not only that, Carrick has been rumored to get a permanent contract. Moreover, at this time Man Utd has not found a manager candidate even though Gareth Southgate and Luis Enrique, the coach of Paris Saint-Germain have emerged.

Carrick himself did not think about rumors that said he would be made permanent by the management. The 44-year-old manager chose to be relaxed in responding to this and focused on securing a ticket to the Champions League.

He also stressed that he would not ask the management about his status at Man Utd. It's like, Carrick won't knock on the door of the club's top management just to ask to be made permanent as a team manager.

"Regarding the deadline [as interim manager], I won't pursue [the position of manager]," said Carrick as quoted by goal. "If there is certainty, of course there will be an explanation," he said again.

"I have also said many times that I really enjoy the position and role now. It is an honor to be in this position. And I am ready to take responsibility," he said.

Carrick, further, said, "We also got satisfactory results. Our performance has also improved. But we want to continue to improve ourselves. Of course there are targets we want to achieve. We'll see later."

So what are the chances of Carrick becoming the official manager and none other than interim status? Carrick has a chance to get the contract. Only the club does not want to repeat the mistake like when it appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager in 2019 to 2021 to replace Jose Mourinho.

Solskjaer was originally an interim manager with satisfactory results. The team never lost and showed a resurgence. As a result, Solskjaer was appointed as a manager and no longer had an interim status.

The appointment of the former Man Utd striker as a manager is also inseparable from emotional ties because Solskjaer has indeed been part of the club's glory in the era of Sir Alex Ferguson. He is also a figure loved and respected by fans. No wonder Solskjaer's appointment received full support from fans.

However, the appointment due to emotional factors ultimately did not bear fruit. Solskjaer even failed to lift Man Utd. Shortly after getting a permanent contract, Man Utd's performance continued to decline. Even he was unable to give the club a trophy until he was finally dismissed.

Carrick, who is Solskjaer's assistant, refused to be compared with his former colleagues at Man Utd. If he is eventually appointed as manager, Carrick does not want the club to do it with emotional considerations as happened to Solskjaer.

"I have respect for him who is my close friend. Not only that, I also worked with him here [Man Utd]," said Carrick.

"You can compare me with him. But the situation is different and it's long gone. So it has nothing to do with it. It's not about negative or positive. But making such a comparison shows a lack of respect for those who handle the team. What is clear, this team is different. So no comparison can be made," he said.

Carrick himself chose to focus on the next Premier League match against Brentford at Old Trafford Stadium, Tuesday, April 28, 2026 early morning WIB. If they win, Man Utd who are back on track after beating Chelsea 1-0 last weekend secure a ticket to the Champions League next season.