Gary Lineker, a renowned football pundit, has made a bold prediction about the future of Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager. According to Lineker, Carrick may face an early exit next season despite his impressive performance as the caretaker manager this term.
Manchester United is currently in what can be described as a 'bonkers' scenario. Following the dismissal of their Portuguese boss Amorim last week, Michael Carrick has stepped up to take charge until the end of the season. This sudden change in leadership has sparked numerous discussions and predictions among fans and pundits alike.
Lineker's prediction suggests that despite showing promise in his current role, Carrick might not have a long-term future with the club. This potential outcome could prove to be a nightmare scenario for Gary Neville, former player and ardent supporter of Manchester United.
Neville’s stand on permanent appointment
Neville expressed his concerns on the Stick to Football podcast about appointing Carrick permanently - even if he manages to win every single game during his tenure as caretaker manager. Drawing parallels with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment after an initial successful stint as interim coach, Neville cautioned against repeating such decisions without considering long-term implications.
Gary Neville, Manchester United legend, said:
“I hope Michael does really well. We could be sat here at the end of the season with the fans up, with the team fifth in the table and back in the Champions League spots, and we could all be getting swayed with it.
“But there cannot be any consideration that Michael takes the job beyond the end of this season, for the sake of Michael and the club, even if he wins every single game.”
Lineker’s prediction
Meanwhile, speculation is rife about who will take over from Carrick at season-end. Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi are among those thought to be under consideration by club bosses for this crucial role.
According to Lineker's prediction, Carrick's tenure at Manchester United might take an unexpected turn. Despite the current uncertainty surrounding his position, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS bosses could potentially offer Carrick a long-term contract based on his impressive performance this term as caretaker manager. However, even if Carrick secures such a contract extension due to his commendable results under high-pressure circumstances, he may still face an early dismissal next season.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
“Manchester United, here we go, I said mid-table to get into any European competition would be a bonus. I’ll stick with that, thank you. They’re in that pack where they could lose a couple and drop, they’ve got a new man in charge, it’s Michael Carrick until the end of the season, they already had one interim for two games in Darren Fletcher.
“My prediction is that Michael Carrick will do pretty well for the remainder of the season, they’ll give him the job and he’ll be fired by about November (or) December because that club is just bonkers at the minute.”
This forecast, if it comes to pass, could potentially rile Neville and other supporters who are wary of the club making impulsive decisions. The future of Manchester United's leadership remains uncertain. While Carrick has shown promise as a caretaker manager, the question of his long-term suitability for the role is still up for debate. As fans and pundits continue to speculate about potential successors and outcomes, Lineker's prediction adds another layer to this ongoing discussion. Only time will tell whether his bold forecast will come true or not.
