Sheringham's Guardiola Comparison Raises Eyebrows as Carrick Settles Into Old Trafford Role

Michael Carrick's permanent appointment as Manchester United manager has found a vocal supporter in club legend Teddy Sheringham – though the comparisons he's drawing are raising more than a few eyebrows.

Sheringham has suggested that Carrick's trajectory bears similarities to Pep Guardiola's breakthrough at Barcelona, questioning who could definitively say the former Red Devils midfielder won't achieve similar heights. Speaking to Boyle Sports, the ex-striker backed the club's decision to hand Carrick a two-year deal following his impressive interim stint.

"I like it," Sheringham explained. "He's had a period where he's changed things around and he's obviously got a way with how he approaches things, and the players respond to him. You can tell that by the way they play the game. So I think it's a great move to give Carrick the job."

Carrick's path to the permanent role came after he steadied the ship when Ruben Amorim was sacked in January, ultimately steering United back into Champions League qualification. His interim period benefited from a lighter fixture schedule – no European or domestic cup commitments meant he only needed to prepare for single matches each week.

That situation has drawn inevitable parallels with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure following Jose Mourinho's departure. Solskjaer, too, took temporary charge before landing the permanent gig, only to eventually reveal significant tactical limitations when facing elite opposition.

Sheringham dismissed such comparisons as "a load of bollocks," insisting Carrick has earned his opportunity and deserves the chance to prove himself. The former striker pointed to Carrick's experience at Middlesbrough as evidence of his managerial credentials, though it's worth noting his spell at the Riverside didn't exactly set the world alight before his departure a year ago.

The Guardiola comparison, however, stretches credibility considerably. Whilst Guardiola emerged from relative obscurity to revolutionise Barcelona and subsequently transform football across Europe and England, collecting 26 major trophies in the process, Carrick's early United innovations have consisted largely of fielding Kobbie Mainoo and restoring Bruno Fernandes to his natural position – sensible moves, certainly, but hardly the tactical revolution that redefined the modern game.

Still, Sheringham remains convinced. "Who's to say Carrick can't do the same?" he asked. "He's done brilliantly so far. How could he not have been given the chance to go on and take things further with Manchester United?"

Whether that faith proves justified remains to be seen.