Michael Owen is holding back his verdict on Michael Carrick’s tenure as Manchester United head coach, ahead of a ‘big challenge’ that will test him in a different way than matches against Man City and Arsenal. It has been a strong start for Carrick since he returned to the club just over two weeks ago.
Michael Owen is holding back his verdict on Michael Carrick’s tenure as Manchester United head coach, ahead of a ‘big challenge’ that will test him in a different way than matches against Man City and Arsenal.
It has been a strong start for Carrick since he returned to the club just over two weeks ago.
Carrick was appointed as head coach until the end of the season, with the goal of qualifying for the Champions League. United parted ways with Ruben Amorim after concerns grew that the Portuguese coach was losing ground in the push to return to Europe’s top competition.
Even if Carrick manages to secure a Champions League spot, there are no assurances he’ll remain in charge next season. That decision will be made by football director Jason Wilcox, alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada.
It will be up to Carrick to show them he’s the right person for the job. Strong results over what remains of this season would certainly help his case, but it won’t come easy.
Michael Owen shares thoughts on Michael Carrick before Fulham game
While Carrick’s return to United has started positively, Michael Owen has pointed out that the bigger test is still to come for this team.
The key question for United fans this week is whether the team can consistently win the games they are expected to. Momentum from recent wins will only build if they can take all three points against Fulham.
Carrick’s spell won’t be without its challenges, but Owen addressed what lies ahead during an appearance on Premier League Productions’ The Final Word.
“The big challenge now, of course is to see Manchester United against the lesser teams when they’re at Old Trafford when they’re expected to have the ball,” Owen said.
“Can they penetrate? Can they pick teams apart? And that’s the next test for Michael Carrick. But so far, flying colours.”
Carrick has plenty of attacking options at his disposal, and it will be up to him to find a system that turns talent into consistent results over these upcoming fixtures.
With Liverpool dealing with inconsistency issues following last season’s title run, there may never be a better opportunity for Carrick and his squad to put together a run towards those Champions League places.
How Fulham have been playing heading into Man Utd match
Fulham head to Old Trafford this weekend sitting seventh in the Premier League, just four points behind United.
They’ve picked up three wins from their last six games, along with two draws and one defeat.
The Cottagers lost 1-0 to Leeds but managed to take four points from matches against Chelsea and Liverpool.
United will need to maintain their recent form if they want to make it three wins in a row under Carrick.
Category: General Sports
