JAKARTA - Interim manager Michael Carrick has a heavy burden in bringing Manchester United to qualify for the 2026/2027 Champions League. Carrick immediately changed the scheme to 4-2-3-1 like when he occupied the same position in 2021.
Carrick actually has a unique record at Man Utd. Being one of the players who achieved success in the era of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson by winning various trophies, Carrick is actually a figure who never left Man Utd. In fact, he has been interim manager three times. What?
It turns out, Carrick was a temporary manager when Man Utd fired Jose Mourinho. Carrick, who was then Mourinho's assistant, was promoted to temporarily manage the team.
But before he had time to accompany Man Utd in a match, Carrick had to hand over his position to his colleague, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Yes, Carrick only occupied the position for two days. However, Solskjaer still retained Carrick as his assistant.
When Solskjaer was dismissed in 2021, the club again asked Carrick to become the interim manager. This time, he got the chance to accompany the Red Devils in three matches. The results were not disappointing because Man Utd was unbeaten, even they beat Arsenal 3-2 after the previous match drew against Chelsea.
After three satisfactory matches, Ralf Rangnick came in who confidently brought Man Utd back to the top. Moreover, he claimed to have been a mentor to Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. However, Man Utd remained sluggish so that Rangnick only lasted until the end of the season.
Now, Carrick has been given the opportunity to manage his former club until the end of the season. The figure who was a player occupying the position as a defensive midfielder but more in the position of a deep-lying midfielder replaced Ruben Amorim who was fired after 14 months at Old Trafford without giving any results.
Previously, Man Utd U-18 coach Darren Fletcher had managed the team for two matches with disappointing results. Man Utd were held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley in the Premier League and then knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The failure in the FA Cup makes Man Utd no chance of lifting the trophy and their last hope is to enter the top four. And Carrick has an easy target because he has to get Man Utd, who are currently in seventh place, into the Champions League. He will play 17 crucial matches in the domestic competition.
"There's no need to say any more, we just want to win the game," Carrick said, quoted by The Sun.
"Of course, we will do it in a different way. In addition, we face different scenarios with different situations in every match," he said.
Carrick will use the 4-2-3-1 scheme because Man Utd seems to still find it difficult to play with three defenders. This is not like Amorim who has made the 3-4-2-1 scheme as a belief. In fact, the formula was not changed at all even though Man Utd often failed and he only recorded a 32% victory.
"You will certainly use the same scheme in a number of matches. But the important thing is that I am happy to work with the players who are here now. I want to help them play better individually so that they can help improve the team," he said again.
"I'm one of them. So we'll always be together and it's important for us to look after and protect each other. I know the end result is still being taken into account. I hope they can play with a fun style of football," said Carrick, accompanied by assistant coach Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate.
Holland was Gareth Southgate's assistant during his eight years in charge of the England national team. Meanwhile, Woodgate is also no stranger to Carrick. The former Leeds United and Real Madrid defender was Carrick's assistant when he managed Middlesbrough. Woodgate is also a colleague of Man Utd's Football Director Jason Wilcox and they once played together at Leeds.
In addition to them, there are Jonny Evans, a former Man Utd defender, Man Utd U-21 goalkeeper coach Travis Binnion and coach Craig Mawson who joined the coaching staff. The three have accompanied Fletcher in the previous two matches.
Carrick will also face an easy test. Man Utd has to meet Manchester City, a rival in the same city. This derby at Old Trafford must be won by the 44-year-old because in the next match they have to visit Arsenal's headquarters.
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