Carragher: Carrick Has Earned Manchester United Job Permanently After 'Sensational' Results

Jamie Carragher has made a bold prediction: Michael Carrick will be confirmed as Manchester United's permanent manager next season. The Sky Sports pundit believes the interim boss has produced 'sensational results' that no other coach could have matched since taking over in January.

United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday night edged them closer to Champions League qualification. Third place in the Premier League now looks secure, with an 11-point cushion over sixth-placed Brighton and just four games left. Qualification could be sealed next weekend when they host rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Carragher: 'He Deserves It'

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: 'He's going to be the Manchester United manager, certainly next season, no doubt about that – and you can't say he doesn't deserve it. These are absolutely sensational results. They're the results of a title-winning team.'

The former Liverpool defender highlighted Carrick's tactical flexibility as a key factor. 'The biggest criticism of Ruben Amorin was that he never adapted. Carrick has shown he can adapt,' Carragher added.

Carrick has overseen nine wins in 13 matches since stepping in, a run that includes impressive victories over Arsenal and Manchester City. According to Sky Sports, that haul of 29 points from 13 games is title-winning form.

Maguire: 'Results Speak for Themselves'

Defender Harry Maguire echoed the sentiment. 'The results speak for themselves since the manager came in and the formation changed. We just seem to pick up results. Under Ruben, games were 50/50 but we always ended up on the back of a defeat. Now it's the other way around – we're a lot better in both boxes.'

Maguire credited Carrick for instilling belief and defensive solidity. 'We defend our box a lot better, and we're managing to be clinical in the other box.'

Neville: 'Getting the Absolute Maximum'

Gary Neville also praised Carrick's impact. 'I think if Michael Carrick was speaking honestly, he'd say he's getting the absolute maximum out of this group of players. 29 points in 13 games? That's a brilliant job.'

Neville pointed to Carrick's in-game adjustments against Brentford as evidence of tactical growth. 'What he did in the second half was saying, 'I've got the tactical nous to do this. I can shut down a game.' He's proven he's agile in games.'

Carrick himself acknowledged the team's position after the Brentford win. 'It's another win. We've got an important game coming up this weekend, but we've put ourselves in a good position.'

Key Takeaways

• Record under Carrick: 9 wins, 29 points from 13 Premier League games – title-winning form.
• Champions League race: United are 11 points clear of sixth, needing just a few more points to seal a top-four finish.
• Pundit consensus: Carragher, Neville, and Maguire all believe Carrick deserves the job permanently.
• Tactical adaptability: Carrick has shown he can adjust systems mid-game, a contrast to his predecessor.
• What's next: A win against Liverpool this weekend could mathematically confirm Champions League qualification.

With momentum firmly on their side, Manchester United look set to return to the Champions League under Carrick's steady hand. Whether he stays beyond this season may be decided by results like the one against Liverpool – but for now, the interim boss has made an undeniable case for permanence.