Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen believes the club should seriously consider handing the managerial reins to current interim boss Michael Carrick on a permanent basis. Owen, speaking with casino.org where he serves as the UK ambassador for the online casino comparison site, emphasized the potential pitfalls of pursuing other high-profile candidates.
“I think Manchester United will do the right thing and not just kneejerk in saying ‘give Michael Carrick the job tomorrow’,” Owen told GOAL. “However, if he can successfully guide Manchester United to Champions League qualification and we witness this performance continue – there will clearly come a time when that’s the right decision – the most impressive aspect is the way they are playing. They are playing well. The match against Manchester City, I haven’t seen Manchester United play like that in over a decade in a single game.”
Carrick took over after the early-season dismissal of Ruben Amorim, who struggled to implement his preferred 3-4-2-1 system. A brief stint by Darren Fletcher followed before Carrick was appointed. Since then, United have embarked on a four-game winning streak, significantly boosting their chances of securing a coveted Champions League spot. The Red Devils’ recent victories include wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham.
“That has continued. They’ve been playing very well since then. You can see the confidence flowing through them. I know a lot of people are saying you can’t give him the job without conditions. I completely disagree,” Owen added.
Owen pointed to Manchester United’s history of managerial changes over the past decade, noting the club has tried various approaches – experienced winners, promising newcomers, and managers from different countries – without sustained success. He believes Carrick’s ability to unlock the potential of the current squad, coupled with the renewed confidence and stability he’s instilled, makes him a compelling candidate.
“Manchester United, in the last decade, have tried everything. They’ve gone for natural winners, experienced managers, former players, new things from other countries, and experienced managers. They’ve tried everything. A manager who can – we’re assuming, if he continues to do so – suddenly looks like he can optimize the potential of the players, the fans are excited, confidence is flowing, there appears to be stability, he understands the club, he’s the right person who has really been through the mill. Imagine if he gets them into the Champions League and does well, and then they say, ‘Thanks for your work, Michael, now we’re going to hire someone else,’ and Manchester United go back to what’s been happening for the last 10-12 years. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! It’s staring them in the face.”
