Written by Han Bing. Since Carrick’s debut win in the Manchester derby, the discussion over confirming this interim coach permanently has been a popular subject among British media and supporters. With Carrick and his United side’s ongoing victories, the topic’s prominence has grown. Despite widespread backing from former stars and the press for extending Carrick’s tenure, United’s board, wary of repeating the Solskjaer experience, is reluctant to rush a conclusion. Even Keane, who initially opposed Carrick’s permanent appointment, has changed his stance, but Ratcliffe still faces complex considerations.

Although Carrick successfully navigated the “hellish schedule” of facing three top clubs consecutively, this was only the first stage. The seemingly easier fixtures ahead actually represent a tougher challenge. Will the Red Devils’ tendency to perform strongly against tough opponents but falter against weaker ones fundamentally change? With only the Premier League to focus on, how United maintains locker room unity during a less intense schedule will test the coach’s management skills even more than the brutal run of games. Moreover, with each successive win raising expectations, any dropped points could abruptly end Carrick’s “honeymoon period” with Messi, the fans, and the club’s hierarchy.

Carrick often tells his players at Manchester United: “Everything is just the beginning,” a phrase that applies equally to himself.

The real test lies in managing the locker room.

The string of victories is steadily boosting Carrick’s popularity and raising external expectations. The Manchester Evening News believes that after surviving the “hellish schedule,” this is the new challenge Carrick must face. Unlike the traditional top six clubs and Aston Villa, who compete on multiple fronts and must rotate their squads, reducing competition for playing time among first-team players, Carrick’s United now only compete in the Premier League.

Although things appear smooth and the locker room atmosphere is positive, as the team’s results improve and players’ form rises, demands for playing time among first-team members will become a major internal conflict for United. Dorgu’s injury against Arsenal temporarily eased competition in midfield and attack, but over time, Carrick will have to confront and resolve this underlying issue.

Discord has already surfaced in the attacking line. After scoring consecutively, substitutes Cunha and Sheshko both want more minutes. Cunha scored the winning goal at the Emirates, and post-match, Carrick explained how disappointed Cunha was not to start in two games but managed his frustration properly, influencing the bench positively. This exemplifies Carrick’s excellent locker room management, though even with his experience, he knows such reassurance has its limits. After scoring off the bench repeatedly, Cunha will inevitably expect a starting role as a reward.

Dorgu’s injury temporarily solved Cunha’s issue, but Sheshko’s situation has emerged. Motivating players on the bench to contribute is good, but when they succeed, they must be rewarded; otherwise, encouragement becomes hollow. Players may feel that no matter how well they perform in limited minutes, it’s insufficient to secure a starting spot. Once such feelings arise, they can spread through the locker room and damage team spirit.

Maintaining harmony in the squad during the next 13 Premier League games will be a huge challenge for Carrick. With only four matches each in February and March, this might be the biggest test of his coaching tenure this season. Rotation seems unlikely since the relatively stable lineup has achieved four consecutive wins, and the football adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, for Carrick, who aims to keep winning while preserving a positive locker room atmosphere, this principle may need to be overturned in some match.

The management’s “mental block” is also an issue.

Despite Carrick’s smooth run of four straight Premier League wins, calls to confirm him permanently are growing louder. Yet, United’s management fears rushing a decision and repeating Solskjaer’s mistakes. Seven years ago, around the same time, United appointed a similar insider coach, Solskjaer, hoping his player-era prestige would revive team morale. Solskjaer led the team to eight consecutive wins, including Premier League away victories at Spurs and FA Cup away wins at Arsenal. In his first 17 games, he lost only once in the Champions League Round of 16 home leg against PSG but overturned the deficit in the return leg. Then, pressured by public opinion, United’s board immediately awarded him a three-year permanent contract. However, in the final 12 matches of that season, Solskjaer managed only 2 wins, 2 draws, and 8 losses.

Carrick’s challenges go beyond the management’s fear of history repeating itself; he also faces competition from many top coaches for the permanent Manchester United job in the summer. Premier League candidates include former Crystal Palace boss Glasner, Bournemouth’s Ihaura, and Fulham’s Marco Silva. Around the 2024 FA Cup final, England manager Tuchel reportedly had contact with United. After the North American World Cup, Tuchel might leave the Three Lions to return to club management, which is his strength, posing a strong temptation for United. Additionally, national team coaches like Nagelsmann may become available post-World Cup. Furthermore, De Zerbi, highly regarded by British insiders and media, is also a contender.

What truly convinces the United board is Carrick’s stability. When coaching Middlesbrough, his team’s performance trajectory mirrored Solskjaer’s at United. In October 2022, Carrick took over Boro mid-season; after losing his first match to Preston, the team won 16 of the next 22 games. By March, after beating Preston at home, they were just 3 points shy of automatic promotion. Their striker Akpom had scored 29 goals that season, and a Premier League return after six years seemed imminent. However, in the last 8 matches, Boro won only twice and missed automatic promotion by 16 points, later losing to Coventry in the playoff semi-finals.

Before the Spurs match, Carrick admitted that short-term results won’t change everything: “Football changes in an instant; we must stay calm.” The issue is, if Carrick continues to perform this well by season’s end, it will be the United management’s turn to lose their composure.