Michael Carrick has impressed since being appointed as Manchester United boss but Red Devils icon Roy Keane remains unconvinced that about a full-term stint at Old Trafford
Nicky Butt has slammed Roy Keane for his suggestion that Michael Carrick should not be appointed as Manchester United boss permanently. The former midfielder was appointed as Ruben Amorim’s replacement earlier this season and has impressed.
Carrick has led United to the verge of a Champions League spot with seven wins from nine games. That form has been enough to see some demand he be handed the job on a permanent basis.
Keane has shared his take and is not among those to call for Carrick to stay - and Butt has now hit back. Speaking to Paddy Power, the former United midfielder said: “Roy is very stubborn in what he thinks and says and that’s what makes him what he is.
“He genuinely believes there is better out there, and I understand what he means because Michael hasn’t got the experience. Michael is a phenomenal guy and he’s done exceptionally well, but does that make him the best candidate for the permanent job? I don’t know, and no one will know until he goes through two or three transfer windows.
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“Right now, he’s just coaching the players and putting the team out on the pitch. When you get involved with recruitment and you get bad press and then you’ve got to get rid of players or drop players, that’s a different kettle of fish. So I get Roy’s reasoning why he might not be the right candidate. But if there are other people out there, I don’t know who they are.
“[Carlo] Ancelotti isn't going to start a five-year rebuild at Man United. He’s done all he has to do in the game, is he going to go back to the everyday to a team that needs rebuilding. Michael will have the enthusiasm for that because of his age, drive and love for the club. He might get to the level that Roy is speaking about - he hasn’t done it yet but that’s normal.
“His results so far have been phenomenal. I think the club will give him the job and he’ll have to prove people wrong, Roy being one of them.”
Butt has also given his take on the managerial hotseat at Old Trafford and said that club chiefs need to think hard about their next move. He added: “They won’t get [Diego] Simeone because he’s on more money than anybody at Atletico Madrid.
“[England boss Thomas] Tuchel signed a new deal so they might not get him for 18 months - or you’ll have to pay a lot of money. The only one, maybe, would be [ PSG boss] Luis Enrique.
“I’m glad I’m not the one picking the next manager. Jason [Wilcox] and Omar [Berrada] have to get this one right. They’ve got a couple wrong - Erik ten Hag by giving him a new contract, Ruben Amorim wrong as they sacked him. They can’t get another one wrong.”