Carrick's Stunning Form Opens the Door to Permanent Gig at Old Trafford

Fabrizio Romano has declared that Michael Carrick possesses a genuine opportunity to land the permanent job at Manchester United, as the interim chief's remarkable run has shifted opinion within Old Trafford.

The club dispensed with Ruben Amorim's services in early January after a disastrous 14-month tenure. Following a brief caretaker spell from Darren Fletcher, Carrick took the reins on an interim basis until the season's conclusion.

The transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. Across his opening seven Premier League matches, Carrick has orchestrated six victories and a solitary draw, propelling United to third place in the table. The atmosphere within the squad, by all accounts, has lifted considerably.

While United had previously mooted a deadline before the World Cup commences on June 11 to appoint a permanent successor, the temptation to stick with Carrick grows more compelling by the week. Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, suggested the mood around the former midfielder has become "increasingly positive" as the campaign enters its final stretch.

"When Manchester United decided to part ways with Ruben Amorim and give Carrick the opportunity, they expected him to do well – but not at this level," Romano explained. "Now, internally, there is a feeling that Carrick could really have a chance to become the next permanent manager. It is not decided, but the opportunity is there and he is surprising everyone at the club."

The Italian journalist highlighted the tangible shift in the dressing room dynamic. "The atmosphere around the squad is excellent and the players are very happy with Carrick," he added, though he stressed that nothing has been formally settled for summer 2026.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports ahead of United's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, echoed the sentiment. "Michael is in the box seat for the job," the pundit declared. "Looking at what is happening now, I think they will qualify for the Champions League."

Neville expressed genuine surprise at the turnaround. "The run they have been on has been a shock to everybody," he noted. "I am surprised at where Michael has taken them from what we were seeing around Christmas time. The performance levels against Arsenal and City were incredible. I didn't expect that."

With the season's conclusion looming and Carrick continuing to confound expectations, the narrative around his future has shifted from stopgap measure to genuine contender for the job on a permanent basis.