Scholes Casts Doubt on Carrick's Manchester United Future Despite Flawless Start
Michael Carrick has enjoyed a dream beginning to his tenure as Manchester United's interim head coach, securing victories in his first two matches against formidable rivals Manchester City and Arsenal. However, club legend Paul Scholes remains sceptical about the former midfielder's prospects of landing the role on a permanent basis, citing historical precedent as a significant barrier.
The Solskjaer Shadow Looms Large Over Old Trafford
Scholes, speaking candidly on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, suggested that United's hierarchy would be "scarred" by their previous experience with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian was appointed permanently after a successful interim spell, a decision that ultimately did not yield the sustained success the club desired.
"They will be scarred a little bit from the Ole thing," Scholes stated. "If the Ole thing hadn't have happened then it would probably be more likely [for Carrick]." He elaborated that the pressure of an interim role differs vastly from the expectations placed on a permanent manager from the start of a new season.
Carrick's Immediate Impact and the Long-Term Reality
Carrick, who returned to Old Trafford earlier this month following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, has overseen a notable uplift in both performance and results. His contract runs until the end of the current campaign. Despite this positive momentum, Scholes believes the club will look towards more established names for the long-term position.
"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," Scholes argued, highlighting the competitive landscape for elite managerial appointments.
Insider Perspective and a Potential Tottenham Pathway
Fellow former United midfielder Nicky Butt concurred with this assessment, suggesting Carrick himself is acutely aware of the situation. "I think Michael is that bright and intelligent, he'll understand the job that he's got," Butt said. "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."
Intriguingly, Scholes then proposed an alternative future for Carrick, speculating that his next managerial opportunity could lie with another of his former clubs. "It could be like a Tottenham manager from this [for Carrick]. It wouldn't surprise me," Scholes remarked, alluding to the current pressure on Spurs boss Thomas Frank and positioning a successful interim spell at United as a potential springboard.
This perspective frames Carrick's current role not as an audition for the permanent United job, but as a crucial showcase for his next position elsewhere in the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur emerging as a plausible destination should he maintain his impressive start.
