Michael Carrick could go on to manage Man Utd’s rival, says Paul Scholes | Football

Paul Scholes says it ‘wouldn’t surprise’ him to see Michael Carrick take charge of Tottenham when his contract as Manchester United’s interim manager expires at the end of the season.

Carrick has enjoyed a phenomenal start to life back in the Old Trafford hot seat having picked up the pieces from Ruben Amorim’s turbulent reign earlier this month.

Faced with the daunting challenge of taking on the Premier League’s top two in his first two matches, Carrick has, so far, passed the test with flying colours – overseeing stunning victories against both Manchester City and then Arsenal.

The manner of United’s defeat of league leaders Arsenal made it all the more impressive, with the visitors forced to come from behind after Lisandro Martinez’s own goal midway through the first half at the Emirates.

It means Carrick remains unbeaten across his two temporary spells in charge of the Red Devils having steered the club to two wins and a draw following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal back in late 2021.

The 44-year-old will no doubt be desperate to extend this outstanding record when United return to top-flight action at home to Fulham in six days’ time.

While Carrick’s tenure remains in its infancy, the way in which he has managed to turn the side’s fortunes around has raised the possibility that perhaps he should be handed the job on a permanent basis in the summer.

But much like Roy Keane at the weekend, Scholes insists United should be looking at far more experienced managers if they are to return to their former glory.

‘It couldn’t have been better [timing], players coming back from the Africa Cup of Nations,’ Scholes said of Carrick’s strong start on the latest The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.

‘It’s been perfect for him but he’s still got to do the job.’

Scholes, who played alongside Carrick for seven seasons at United, continued: ‘He’s come into the job now and it’s been that bad for a year that it couldn’t really get any worse so the pressure isn’t really on you while you’re interim manager.

‘Once you take that job full-time, at the start of the season next year, let’s say, all of a sudden you’ve got to be winning games straightaway.

‘They will be scarred a little bit from the Ole [Gunnar Solksjaer] thing. If the Ole thing hadn’t have happened then it would probably be more likely.

‘But if Michael has got to go up against, say, Thomas Tuchel in the summer then there’s only one winner if you’re looking at coaching big clubs and winning big prizes so you can’t really compete with that.’

Scholes’ podcast colleague, Nicky Butt, echoed these comments, claiming Carrick will be aware that he is unlikely to remain at the Theatre of Dreams – no matter what happens between now and the end of the season.

‘I think Michael is that bright and intelligent, he’ll understand the job that he’s got,’ ex-United and England midfielder Butt said.

‘I can’t ever imagine Michael going on the TV… maybe his last game if he’s third or something like that… but up until then, he knows he’s got a contract until the end of the season to get the club moving forward in the right direction for the next manager.

‘He’ll know that and I know Michael well, he won’t be out there, he’s not stupid enough to say, “Yeah, I want the job”, because that’s not what he signed up to.

‘His next job, if he wants to stay in football as a manager for another club, would be a good job if he does well here.’

It was in this moment that Scholes backed Carrick to manage another of his former clubs in Tottenham, where Thomas Frank currently finds himself under intense pressure after a wretched debut season.

This is despite the fact Carrick’s only other permanent managerial position was with Championship outfit Middlesbrough, where he was relieved of his duties last summer.

‘It could be like a Tottenham manager from this [for Carrick],’ Scholes said.

‘It wouldn’t surprise me.’

Asked if Carrick would be prepared to stick around and take up a coaching role under United’s next permanent manager, Scholes replied: ‘No, I think that would be weird.

‘He’s had three years at Middlesbrough being a manager and I don’t think he’d want to do that.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Gary Lineker says Man Utd have ‘one of the most underrated players in football’ after Arsenal win

MORE: Patrick Vieira ‘concerned’ about Arsenal signing after Manchester United defeat

MORE: ‘Offering nothing’ – Arteta told he must drop key Arsenal star after Man Utd defeat