“Pressure at the club is something I have lived with for a long time,” says head coach
Michael Carrick says he is unfazed by the pressure of managing Manchester United as the odds of the club appointing him as next permanent head coach continue to turn in his favour.
Speaking to Sky Sports at the club’s training camp in Dublin, Carrick said the expectations that come with the role are nothing new to him.
“There are parts of [what comes with being Manchester United manager] – and I am not being blasé when I say it – that I have known for so long,” Carrick said. “The pressure is something I have lived with for a long time.
“What’s expected here, how to go about achieving things, the amount of support we have, and the scrutiny is something that becomes normal after a while. It does not feel as big as it probably looks from the outside for me personally.”
United are yet to make a final decision on their next head coach. That will wait until the end of the season. But the options are disappearing and Carrick remains the only candidate formally spoken to so far and has been involved in planning for the club’s future.
Recent decisions such as Harry Maguire signing a one-year contract extension and Casemiro confirming he will leave at the end of the campaign have been made with the interim coach’s involvement.
Carrick acknowledged the need to replace the Brazilian midfielder, suggesting the club are already preparing to strengthen in that area. Casemiro has enjoyed a strong final season at Old Trafford, scoring seven goals, and Carrick noted that clarity over his future has helped him “make the most of what’s left”.
On his own situation, Carrick indicated he is comfortable with the uncertainty surrounding his role.
“I understand the situation, and where we were at when we came back in January, the plan for the rest of the season and the possibilities in the summer,” said Carrick. “I don’t think that’s changed.
“Things will get sorted when they get sorted. For me it’s just about doing the best job that we can and plan for the future and the good of the club and the players in the squad. I am not coming to get through to the end of the season and deal with what’s next.
“I think it’s important we make a plan and follow that through for the squad to get stronger. If I am part of it then I am part of it. If not, then that is the situation I walked into.”
Carrick also addressed the prospect of becoming the first English manager to win the Premier League.
“I’d love that to be the case,” said United’s coach. “At some point you’d like to think it would happen. For whatever reason it hasn’t. Timing is important.
“We had a manager here for quite a period of time who was definitely not English but hugely successful. If it got to the stage and that was me, that would be amazing.
“That’s got to be the goal at some point for this football club, to be back to winning league titles. It is where we want to be.”
