Man Utd players decide on Carrick as squad's feelings on head coach clear

Michael Carrick has enjoyed a largely successful interim head coaching stint with Manchester United, and one player in particular has voiced his opinion

Manchester United players are pushing for Michael Carrick to be given the head coach job on a permanent basis. The 44-year-old has managed to steer the Red Devils to seven wins and two draws in his first 10 matches at the helm.

United insist they are carrying out a "thorough process" to name a permanent head coach, with Carrick having only put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season when he re-joined the club in January. However, he has delivered notable improvements in both performances and results, with United sitting third with seven matches to go and well-positioned to clinch a return to the Champions League next season.

This has thrust Carrick to the forefront of the race for the role, with the players having made their desires crystal clear, as Amad Diallo stressed they are desperate for the club's former midfielder to stay. He said: "It's not for us as a player to decide for his future but he's been very great, he's been doing so much for the team, he has a lot of experience and he knows the club, he has the DNA so we think he's the right man but we are really happy for what he's doing right now."

Carrick is currently leading a training camp in Ireland as his squad gears up for a return to Premier League action following a 24-day break between matches, yet his own future remains very much under the spotlight.

He clearly has the support of his players, however, which could prove vital as chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox consider their next steps.

Thomas Tuchel has taken himself out of the running after signing a new deal with England, while Paris Saint-Germain expect Luis Enrique to stay put, which could strengthen Carrick's position.

Amad said: "He knows the club, he played for the club, so he has a great experience, I think, to manage this club. He's been here not too long but he's been doing very good and his relationship with every player is very good.

"Sometimes you need this kind of manager to bring the club where they belong. I think my personal decision is he's the right man. It's not the player who decides if he's going to be the manager.

"We are really happy to have him as a manager. I think the club will decide at the end of the season. But my honest opinion is we are really happy to have Michael Carrick as a manager and he's doing well."

Amad was a young player at United while Carrick was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's backroom staff, and he also revealed that he had kept in touch with him while the winger was on loan at Sunderland AFC, with Carrick at the helm of their north east neighbours, Middlesbrough.

He added: "I was young at that time, with no experience, but he was there to help me, he was there to give me advice. I was playing a lot of games with under-23.

"I also remember that I met him when he was in Middlesbrough and I was in Sunderland. So I know him since a long time ago. He's been doing so much for me and I'm so happy to have him as a manager, honestly."