Manchester United legend David Beckham feels Michael Carrick has done an ‘incredible’ job as interim manager and arguably higher than any boss has done for a decade at Old Trafford.
Carrick took charge in January for the remainder of the season, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim and the temporary caretaker stint of Darren Fletcher.
It has gone thoroughly for the Red Devils under his stewardship, with seven wins, two draws and only one defeat in his 10 games in charge.
A return to the Champions League next season looked like an optimistic goal but now it appears nailed on, with Carrick’s side sitting third within the Premier League, six points clear of Liverpool in fifth.
No decision has been made on whether Carrick shall be handed the job on a everlasting basis, but his work to date has actually made him a candidate for the role.
Beckham feels his former England teammate has quite a lot of the suitable qualities for the job, although didn’t quite go so far as backing him to still be in charge next season.
Asked if he surprised by the outcomes Carrick has pulled off to date, Beckham told TalkSPORT: ‘Yeah, I have to admit, the previous couple of months have been loads more comfortable than the last 10 years, to be honest. It’s been tough over that point
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‘But I believe Michael’s got experience. I believe he’s got a calmness about him that he’s brought into the club. He knows the club. He knows the players. He knows the way in which Man United play and the way in which Man United should play.
‘And I’ve at all times liked Michael as a coach. While you take a look at him, there’s a calmness. There’s, on the side of the pitch, there’s, I don’t need to say elegance because I’m undecided that’s the suitable thing to say, but there’s an elegance in the way in which he’s, whether it’s the way in which he celebrates, whether it’s the way in which he gets indignant.
‘You realize, all of those things are essential in a manager. And I believe that the way in which he’s got the team and brought the team together has been, has been incredible. And I believe as a United fan, it’s exactly what we would have liked.’
Carrick’s future has split opinion from the beginning of his stint in charge, with the likes of Gary Neville and Roy Keane dismissing his probabilities of staying on permanently from the off.
Nonetheless, Michael Owen is in the alternative camp, feeling Manchester United must let Carrick attempt to proceed the nice work he has done to date.
‘It’s not like that is the most important decision ever. He’s doing well, why not only let it proceed?’ Owen told the Manchester Evening News, via Casino.org. ‘This is totally unbelievable what we’re seeing from Manchester United. I mean if the league began when Carrick took over, Manchester United at the highest of the league.
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‘I mean, what on Earth? Why on Earth is that this even a matter? I don’t get it. I’m astounded by certain people saying “No, no, no, they shouldn’t appoint him”, astounded.
‘I’m not saying yeah go and provides him a 10-year contract, every thing’s perfect. But bloody hell, what more can he do? You’ve just got to let this roll. You’ve got to let it roll.’
One other former teammate of Carrick, Wayne Rooney, feels there must be little doubt over whether he gets the job permanently.
‘100% he should [get the job]. I even have said this. I knew this was going to occur with Michael Carrick,’ Rooney told the BBC.
‘I do know him thoroughly. I do know his character, his personality. It needed a peaceful head, but someone who knows the place and the players needed some love, and he has given them that.
‘We have now seen the players play with more quality, more together as a team, and they appear like a really strong team. For me, why would you modify?’
With no European football this campaign and early exits from the domestic cups, Carrick has been in a position to focus solely on Premier League motion, which has been a help.
With the FA Cup quarter-finals played next weekend, the Red Devils aren’t back in motion until April 13 at home against Leeds United.
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