Manchester United told they are ‘sleepwalking’ into worrying Michael Carrick scenario amid fears over ‘elephant in the room’

Manchester United have been warned that Michael Carrick could face a similar fate to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a permanent appointment.

The former midfielder replaced Ruben Amorim as head coach on a deal until the end of the season and has been impressive in the role.

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Carrick has won ten of his 15 matches in charge and, as talkSPORT reported earlier this week, is close to becoming the permanent boss.

United are yet to offer him any assurances, but are aware that he has the backing of the dressing room.

Sources close to Carrick, who guided the club to Champions League qualification, expect formal discussions to begin imminently.

However, Jason Cundy does not believe that he is the right man for role long-term despite his accomplishments this season.

He cited Solskjaer, who Carrick replaced as caretaker manager in 2021, as a cautionary tale of how initial success could cloud their judgement.

Solskjaer took the permanent job in 2019 after winning 14 of his 19 matches as caretaker, but left two years later with the club seventh.

“I can see both sides, and I am so torn on this,” Cundy said on the GameDay Phone-In for talkSPORT after their 0-0 draw at Sunderland.

“The reason I’m torn on this is, has Carrick come into Man United and done a good job? Results wise, yes… I’ve seen performances, they’re unconvincing.”

Cundy then delivered a passionate explanation as to why he may be sceptical of Carrick’s ability to take on the permanent job, saying: “They’ve had half a season off!

“Honestly, you’re all dancing around the elephant in the room. The elephant in the room is that Manchester United, and Carrick has come in, he has had to deal with just one game a week.

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“You are crazy if you don’t have that conversation with yourself, I think if you just go (on about) how well he’s done, (that) they’re six points off (Manchester) City…

“But here’s the thing, City have won the Carabao Cup, City have been in Europe, City have got the FA Cup (final) coming up.”

“Why are we talking about City?” Jamie O’Hara asked, and Cundy said: “Because you said they’re six points off City… City will probably play more games this calendar year than Man United will all season!

“They’ve played 40 games, it’s a travesty! If you really want to say how well he’s done and blow smoke up his backside, fine.

“But when you look at the bigger picture… Bruno (Fernandes) has had half a season off, all the Man United players have had half a season off, they all have.

“Man City players haven’t, Arsenal players haven’t, Chelsea players haven’t… we’re in an FA Cup final, we got to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, got to the knockout stages of the Champions League.”

His co-host Jamie O’Hara stressed that United weren’t in any extra competitions when Carrick took over, and that it’s not his fault.

“Next season, when they’ve got the Champions League, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, then you judge him and say, ‘Is he good enough?'”

Cundy responded: “Right, okay, but if you’re not prepared to take that into consideration now, what’s the point?

“‘Look how well he’s done, look, he’s done this, he’s done that’. Fine, it’s not a Carabao Cup semi-final, it’s not an FA Cup final, Champions League.”

“He hasn’t had the opportunity!” O’Hara cried, but Cundy insisted: “I know, but you’ve got to factor that into your answer. Every single Man United player has had half a season off, every single one!”

O’Hara then asked Cundy if he would give Carrick the job, with the latter laid out his thoughts: “I think he’s going to get it.

“I’m not convinced it’s the right answer, I think he’s going to get it by default, it’s almost like you can’t not give it to him now.

“But I think they could be sleepwalking themselves into an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer situation… they could be, sleepwalking into a situation where, ‘Look how well he’s done, wow look, he’s got these results, look at this’.

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“The bigger picture is Man United, next season, should be having 65 games, 65, not 40! Then you’re adding another half a season plus on top of this, that matters, it has to matter, has to come into the conversation.

“Can he deal with it? I don’t know, and maybe you need to give him that chance, maybe you need to say to him, ‘Carrick, you’ve done a brilliant job’, and he has.

“The performances, I think, are a bit meh. Results have been good. Performances? I’ve never come away from watching Carrick’s Man United play and go, ‘Wow’.

“One or two moments, the Arsenal result, that’s a big result, Man City, big result. Other than that, you’ve gone, ‘Meh.'”