Lineker Predicts Carrick Sacking Amid Manchester United Chaos, Drawing Neville's Ire

Gary Lineker has waded into the Michael Carrick debate at Manchester United with a prediction guaranteed to wind up Gary Neville – suggesting the club will offer the caretaker boss a long-term contract before axing him early next season.

Carrick stepped into the hotseat on a temporary basis following Amorim's departure last week, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS weighing up permanent managerial candidates including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi for the summer.

On the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker laid out his forecast: "My prediction is that Michael Carrick will do pretty well for the remainder of the season, they'll give him the job and he'll be fired by about November or December because that club is just bonkers at the minute."

The assessment cuts directly against Neville's public stance on the matter. Speaking on Stick to Football, the former United defender made an emphatic case against handing Carrick the role permanently, drawing a pointed comparison to the Solskjaer saga.

"There cannot be any consideration that Michael takes the job beyond the end of this season, for the sake of Michael and the club, even if he wins every single game," Neville insisted. He acknowledged the trap United might fall into – a strong finish, Champions League qualification, and mounting pressure to keep things as they are – but insisted the club must resist that siren call.

"We could be sat here at the end of the season with the fans up, with the team fifth in the table and back in the Champions League spots, and we could all be getting swayed with it," he said.

Lineker's broader assessment of United's prospects remains cautious. "Mid-table to get into any European competition would be a bonus," he remarked, noting the side sits in a congested pack where a couple of defeats could trigger another slide down the standings.

Carrick's opening assignment comes against Manchester City on Saturday, and the interim boss struck a measured tone ahead of the fixture. "I know what it takes to succeed here; my focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect at this incredible club, which we know that this group is more than capable of producing," he said.

He added: "I have worked with a number of the players already and have obviously continued to watch the team closely in recent years, I have total belief in their talents, dedication and ability to be successful here. There is still a lot to fight for this season, we are ready to pull everyone together and give the fans the performances that their loyal support deserves."

United have already cycled through Darren Fletcher in an interim capacity for two matches earlier this season, adding another layer of uncertainty to the club's direction.