Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes have told Michael Carrick that Manchester United won’t repeat their Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘mistake’ and appoint him as permanent manager.
After coming under intense pressure before the November break, Solskjaer was finally handed his P45 on Sunday morning and Carrick took caretaker charge for the first time against Villarreal this afternoon.
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho marked the occasion with a 2-0 victory that also booked United their place in the Champions League knockout stages.
United remain keen to appoint Mauricio Pochettino and there is interest from both parties, despite the Argentine offering up a coy response when pressed by the media this afternoon.
Carrick started his temporary reign with a solid performance and result in Spain.
However, three years after Solskjaer found himself in a similar position – before ultimately replacing Jose Mourinho on a permanent basis – lightning won’t strike twice at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand said: “I don’t think they will give it to Michael. One thing for certain is that they are actively looking for somebody to be an interim to take us through until the end of the season, then they will look for someone else to come in at the end of the season.
“You’re looking at Laurent Blanc, someone who wouldn’t be full-time. Someone like Pochettino – when he was out of a job there was murmurs he wanted to come to Man United – and depending on how PSG see it we have to wait and see.
“Man United need to make enquiries [and] if they want a manager who’s in a job, those conversations will be going on now.”
Scholes added: “This is Manchester United, they have to have the best in charge!
“Michael Carrick is a coach, he’s had one game in charge with no experience anywhere else, he can’t [be full-time manager]. As much as I like the lad, they can’t appoint him, they need the very best as interim or full-time.”