Carrick can stabilise Man United but won’t win EPL, Carragher

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, has offered his assessment of Manchester United manager Michael Carrick's capabilities, stating that while Carrick can bring stability to the club, he is unlikely to lead them to Premier League or Champions League glory.

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I’m not saying it’s going to go wrong. What Manchester United have had for the last six months, need that for another 12 months of not being the circus, not being the story all the time, and Carrick brings you that.

Carrick took permanent charge of Manchester United after an interim spell, guiding the team to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification last season. Carragher acknowledged Carrick's ability to create a more stable environment, free from the "circus" that has often surrounded the club. However, he questioned whether Carrick possesses the "stardust" required to secure the biggest trophies.

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But has he got that stardust to win the biggest trophy? And I think you need to get to a strong position of being a proper Champions League club again. And then, right, what do we need? It’s like a player gets you to a certain level, then we need that stardust. I personally just don’t think Michael Carrick’s got that stardust as a manager to win a Champions League or a Premier League.

"I don’t believe Michael Carrick will win the league or the Champions League with Manchester United, but he’s done a really good job," Carragher said on The Overlap podcast. He suggested that Carrick could be instrumental in rebuilding United into a "proper Champions League club" and then step aside for a manager with a proven track record of winning major titles.

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I don’t believe Michael Carrick will win the league or the Champions League with Manchester United, but he’s done a really good job.

The discussion also touched upon Manchester United's transfer dealings. The article notes the signings of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, and Carragher expressed surprise at the club's decision not to pursue former West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham for £85 million. Carragher argued that while £85 million is a significant sum, top midfielders are increasingly expensive, and United might have missed a valuable opportunity.

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I was a little bit worried when I saw United linked with Fernandes because I thought that could be a good signing. I just looked at him and his age and was surprised United didn’t go for Fernandes. They said it was too expensive, but was it that expensive? I know £85million is a lot, but you’re never going to get a really top midfielder now for £50million.