Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand insist Man United should NOT consider naming Michael Carrick as their new boss as they need to have ‘the very best’ – despite Owen Hargreaves claiming they may ‘have to’ look at him
Paul Scholes has insisted that Manchester United should not consider hiring Michael Carrick as their new manager, despite the caretaker boss steering them through to the Champions League last-16.
Carrick, in his first game in charge after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the weekend, oversaw a 2-0 victory at Villarreal – with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho both scoring in an improved team performance.
The plan is for Carrick, a United legend, to remain at the helm while the club look to appoint an interim boss until the end of the season, but surprise calls for him to keep his role may now grow after the display in Spain.
Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand say Michael Carrick should not be Manchester United’s boss
Cristiano Ronaldo was on target to hand Carrick victory at Villarreal, his first game in charge
However, Scholes is adamant that United should focus their attention elsewhere.
Quizzed on Carrick landing the job on BT Sport, he said: ‘I don’t think so, but who knows? After Chelsea, there’s a run of 10 games which are very winnable.
‘This is Man United. You’ve got to have the very best in charge. Michael Carrick? Look, he’s a coach. He’s had one game in charge as a manager.
But Scholes believes United have the ‘very best’ in charge after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking
United delivered an improved showing but Carrick is not expected to be a long-term option
‘No experience anywhere else. You can’t. Honestly, you can’t, as much as I like him. You need the very best.’
Owen Hargreaves began the debate over Carrick being one of the candidates to replace Solskjaer, but both Scholes and Rio Ferdinand – another team-mate of the former United midfielder – vehemently disagreed.
‘Obviously it can all change at Chelsea but if Michael gets a result,’ Hargreaves said.
‘If he’s winning like Ole, nobody anticipated him getting the job full-time, but because his results were there they did it. If Michael keeps clean sheets and climbs up the table then they will have to look at him. They have to.’
Owen Hargreaves, however, said more positive results would mean United weigh up Carrick
Ferdinand sided with Scholes, adding: ‘I don’t think they will give it to Michael.
‘One thing certain is they are actively looking for somebody to be an interim to take us through until the end of the season, then they will look for someone else to come in at the end of the season.
‘You’re looking at Laurent Blanc; someone who wouldn’t be full-time.
‘Someone like [Mauricio] Pochettino when he was out of a job… there was murmurs he wanted to come to Man United in that period and it depends on how PSG see it.
Ferdinand (pictured) is adamant that United will not hand the reins to Carrick permanently
‘We have to wait and see but Man United need to make enquiries if they want a manager who is in a job. Those conversations will be going on now.’
Current PSG boss Pochettino is the favourite to take over permanently at United, and Sportsmail revealed this week that he would be keen on joining mid-season.
However, it has since emerged this evening that United have also held talks with Ernesto Valverde, the renowned former Barcelona manager.
Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite to replace Solskjaer and wants to join United mid-season
But Old Trafford chiefs have now held talks with former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde
The club have a shortlist of five candidates for their interim role, and it has been revealed that Valverde is one of the names under consideration.
He is out of work after leaving the Nou Camp in January 2020, and has recently spoken to United’s football director John Murtough.
It is understood he would only be a temporary option, with United having other candidates for the summer including Pochettino, Brendan Rodgers and Erik ten Hag.
