The Manchester United circus rolled on over the weekend as the once-dominant Red Devils limped toward what now looks like a second domestic cup exit of the season — another painful chapter in a campaign that has lurched from disappointment to dysfunction.
With no European football to lean on, United are now set to play just 40 matches across all competitions this season — a startling fall from grace for a club that once measured success by the number of trophies collected each year. That figure is made even more damning by their second-round League Cup defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town, a result that quickly became synonymous with the decline of Ruben Amorim’s short-lived tenure.
Amorim, once heralded as a moderniser capable of restoring identity and structure, is now already out the door. In his wake, attention has shifted firmly toward who will oversee United’s final 17 matches of the 2025/26 season — a stretch that may define the direction of the club under INEOS ownership.
From Solskjaer Nostalgia to Carrick Realism
For a brief moment, it appeared nostalgia might win out. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s name resurfaced as a potential caretaker solution, more than four years after his sacking following a tenure marked by promise, inconsistency, and unfulfilled potential.
However, following direct discussions with the INEOS hierarchy, reports suggest the club has turned instead to Michael Carrick as the leading candidate to take charge until the end of the season.
Carrick is no stranger to the role. He oversaw a three-game caretaker stint in 2021 after Solskjaer’s departure and left a quietly positive impression. According to ESPN, Carrick also enjoys strong backing within the current United dressing room, with players reportedly enthusiastic about the prospect of him taking the reins once more.
Timing Is Everything
United’s hierarchy are believed to be keen to confirm the appointment early this week — a move designed to give Carrick valuable preparation time ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby. It would also bring an end to Darren Fletcher’s two-match spell as caretaker, which concluded with a sobering third-round defeat to Brighton.
Fletcher, to his credit, did not shy away from confronting the realities of the club’s situation.
“True character reveals itself in difficult times,” Fletcher said after Saturday’s defeat. “In difficult times true character is going to show so they have to dig and make sure they want to be part of Manchester United’s future.”
His words were pointed, and perhaps deliberately so.
“If you’re not [part of the future], then I don’t think you should be here or will be here. It sounds strong, but that’s just the reality and the way it should be.”
A Squad at a Crossroads
Fletcher’s message continued with an honesty rarely heard from within Old Trafford’s walls.
“We can’t hide behind that. It’s not Manchester United level or what’s expected of Manchester United. The players have to group together, take responsibility… Find a way of improving quickly and taking on the challenge for the rest of the season. Don’t waste the season.”
It was less a press conference soundbite and more a warning shot — one that underscores just how fragile United’s identity has become.
Why Carrick Makes Sense — For Now
Michael Carrick may not represent a bold new era, but in a season already drifting, stability may be the most valuable currency United can find. His understanding of the club, rapport with players, and low-key authority could offer a temporary reset — not a revolution, but a recalibration.
United don’t need grand promises over the next 17 matches. They need clarity, accountability, and a sense of direction. Whether Carrick is the long-term answer remains unlikely — but as a steady hand to guide United through the wreckage of a turbulent campaign, he may be exactly what Old Trafford needs right now.
The circus hasn’t left town. But perhaps, finally, someone is ready to quiet the noise.
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