Roy Keane still has doubts over Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager, with ‘big problems’ ahead if he is given the job permanently, as expected.
Carrick continued his impressive stint in interim charge with a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Devils are now guaranteed to finish third in the Premier League, which looked like a fanciful scenario when Carrick took charge in January.
While it is yet to be confirmed, Carrick is expected to be handed the job on a permanent basis after impressing in his audition.
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Keane was against Carrick getting the permanent job, ever since he arrived as interim boss, but admits he does deserve a go after great results.
However, the Irishman is yet to be convinced that Carrick is the man to lead the Red Devils back to former glories and has pointed out the significant challenges that are coming up imminently.
‘Yeah, he’s been in the driving seat the last few months,’ Keane said on Sky Sports on whether Carrick deserves the job. ‘I’m guessing the remit for him was to get in the Champions League, they’ve done that but there’s still huge problems ahead.
‘Was he still the best option out there? We obviously don’t know what other managers they spoke to. But the fact he was winning football matches…but still huge problems at United. Huge problems.
‘That’s going to be part of his remit now in terms of recruitment, getting players in, getting some physicality in the middle of the park, stop giving up the amount of goals they’ve been giving, that’s now the bigger picture he’s got to try and fix.
‘So they’re the big challenges and obviously over the next few months any time they have a little sticky patch, the issue will be, has he got the experience to cope with it? He’s managed Middlesbrough previously, he’s had spells at Unite. He’s got the opportunity and good luck to him, if he does well fantastic. I’ve got my doubts but we’ll wait and see.’
The former Manchester United captain understands why the Red Devils hierarchy are taking a safer option after the somewhat disastrous appointment of Ruben Amorim, but concerns remain.
‘It seems like a safe decision from the club’s point of view because their previous decision backfired on them,’ he said.
‘Carrick’s come in and settled everybody down and they’ve won some football matches. To me, it’s the safest decision and sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that.
‘There’s bigger challenges in terms of can United start competing at the very top and start winning the big trophies again? Huge question marks from my point of view.’
Carrick, as is tradition at Old Trafford, addressed the fans after the last home game of the season, thanking them for their support after a difficult spell.
‘It’s a huge thank you from me for the support this season,’ said the manager. ‘We enjoy the ups, we enjoy the downs, we support each other.
‘The best thing about this place is the supporters. It’s easy to support and enjoy it when everything’s great. The connection that I’ve felt from the moment I walked into this place, 20 years ago. The challenging times are when we stick together. This place is incredible, you’re a one-off and that’s what the football club is all about, so thank you.
‘I just want to say a massive thank you for the season, it’s unbelievable to see this place so full. Enjoy today, we’ve had some big moments and big goals at this place over the last few months, hopefully we will have a few more of them. Take care and have a good summer.’