Is Carrick Still the Right Man for Man Utd’s Job, or Should Julian Nagelsmann Take Over?
Manchester United’s manager debate is back. One manager has declined already but there is a clear alternative waiting in line. Michael Carrick has come under huge pressure and former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace him.
Football365 reported that Nagelsmann’s representatives are open to hearing United’s plans and checking whether the project suits his footballing philosophy.
So should United stay with Carrick or make the switch?
What is happening in Manchester United
Carrick’s first full season is all but not how fans expected, especially given the team played while he was interim. United have two wins against Sabah and Ipswich and have gone without a win in their last seven games. They are 13th in the EPL and were humiliated 4-1 by Como who are debutants in the Champions League last Wednesday.
It is also clear that the mood around the club has turned sour.
Captain Bruno Fernandes questioned the tactics after the loss to Como, as Reuters reported via The Star, and Carrick answered by criticising his players’ effort.
Should Carrick be Kept?
There are a handful of reasons that speak to keeping Carrick. First, he has done it before. We cannot throw away the fact that United were 7th when he took over and he went on to win 11 of 16 games to finish 3rd and secure UCL football. He has shown he is capable of delivering results.
Secondly, the squad is the bigger problem. The strength of every coach’s tactics relies on the personnel and Michael Carrick does not have that.
United spent heavily on midfielders during the summer and failed to sign a left back and a covering striker as they had planned before the season ended. talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, a United fan, has argued that Carrick is not the club’s biggest problem.
The third point would be about the stability of the club. Constant change is not working. For once, United should be thinking about trusting the manager beyond just a bad run of results. If Carrick gets sacked, he would be the 8th permanent manager United have had since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Before Carrick was signed, the club hierarchy said they wanted someone who understood the United DNA. 12 years at United as a player, 5 EPLs and a Champions League is as much United DNA as anyone can have. That is what Carrick has. So he knows what it means to be at United and how the club should be playing better than any manager.
Why United Should Get Julian Nagelsmann
INEOS are attracted to managers who have shown tactical sharpness and innovation which is why Ruben Amorim was hired. Carrick has produced results but has looked far from any form of tactical expertise.
Nagelsmann made his name at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before he became the head coach of Bayern Munich. He is known for his flexible and modern attacking systems and also for being great at in-game management, which is one quality that United have lacked this season.
The Hard Tackle reported that United’s bosses see him as offering the technical expertise and tactical flexibility they want.
Another case for the 39-year-old is that he is free. United won’t need to pay compensation or pull him out of any contract before he signs for them. That is the advantage he has over Hurzeler whose exit package from Brighton could cost close to £20m.
Back in spring, United had been following him as they weighed possible replacements for Amorim. Nagelsmann has also been reported to fancy a Premier League job.
With senior players openly questioning staff, a new and more respected coach could reset the dressing room and bring balance.
What are the risks
Manchester United keeping Carrick would risk their season slipping away including their UCL campaign. At this point, things are salvageable.
With Nagelsmann, the squad is still unbalanced and it would be until January before United can bring in the players he might want. Critics like Alex Crook believe that signing a big-name coach will not fix the problems United have.
There is also competition. Antonio Conte has been linked with the job as well, according to talkSPORT, which means United’s board may not move straight for Nagelsmann.
