Manchester United Board Ready to Hand Carrick the Job Permanently After Arsenal Masterclass

Michael Carrick appears to have done enough to convince Manchester United's hierarchy that he is the man to lead the club forward on a permanent basis, if Spanish outlet Fichajes is to be believed.

The interim manager's stock has soared dramatically in recent weeks. After taking charge following Ruben Amorim's sacking earlier this month, Carrick has delivered precisely what the Old Trafford hierarchy craves: results and consistency. Two wins from two—first against Manchester City, then a thrilling 3-2 victory over Arsenal on Sunday—have left the board convinced they need look no further.

That Arsenal triumph was particularly significant. It propelled United into fourth place and above their arch-rivals Liverpool, representing a dramatic reversal of fortunes under the previous regime. Where Amorim's tenure had been marked by frustrating inconsistency, Carrick has injected an immediate sense of purpose and direction.

According to reports, the club's confidence in the former midfielder has grown substantially following these recent performances, with Sunday's win against the Gunners serving as a watershed moment. Rather than embarking on the lengthy recruitment process many anticipated, United's board appears ready to commit to Carrick for the long term—not as a stop-gap solution, but as the architect of the club's future.

Several factors have influenced this thinking. Carrick's intimate knowledge of United's structure and traditions, combined with his standing as a club legend, carries considerable weight in the board's assessment. His composure on the touchline, tactical acumen, and evident rapport with the players have all impressed those in positions of power.

The next examination comes when Fulham visit Old Trafford next weekend. With United now sitting comfortably in the top four, expectations have shifted considerably—this is now a fixture they are expected to win. How Carrick navigates that encounter could prove telling.

Of course, this represents a departure from the conventional wisdom that suggested United would conduct a thorough process, speaking to available managers and exploring alternatives. The Athletic's David Ornstein had previously outlined the sort of due diligence one might expect: consultations with in-work and international coaches, data analysis, stylistic assessments. Figures such as Thomas Frank, Mauricio Pochettino, and others had been mooted as potential targets.

Ornstein had suggested Carrick could "play himself into contention" through strong performances, emphasizing that the club should run a proper process rather than rush into another Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-style appointment. Yet the speed with which the narrative has shifted suggests the board may have already made up its mind.

If these reports prove accurate, United's hierarchy is prepared to offer Carrick a fresh contract and the opportunity to shape the club's direction over the coming seasons. It represents a significant show of faith in a man who, just weeks ago, was merely steadying the ship in an interim capacity.