On Thursday, Michael Carrick emphasized that he is not actively seeking clarity about his future with Manchester United beyond this season.
It has been 100 days since United appointed the former midfielder, captain, and coach to lead the team for the rest of the season, following the controversial departure of Ruben Amorim in January.
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Since Carrick took charge, United have seen a notable improvement in their performance, having secured victories against top teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, and most recently Chelsea, placing them in third position in the Premier League.
With Champions League qualification within reach, discussions about next season are gaining momentum, although Carrick’s future remains unconfirmed.
“I’ve said it many times, I enjoy being here and take pleasure in my current role,” Carrick said at a news conference before the upcoming home match against Brentford.
“We’ve had some solid results and are in a good position. We still aim to improve and reach new heights. I’ll see what happens.”
“I keep reiterating the same sentiments weekly. There’s a limit to what I can say on that front, but I’ve expressed my feelings numerous times.”
“Once again, I enjoy my time here. It’s truly a privilege to hold this position, and I thrive on this responsibility.”
When asked about when he expects clarity regarding his future, Carrick replied, “I’m not really sure, to be honest.”
“Honestly, I’m not pursuing deadlines on that front. I believe it will become clear when the time is right.”
“Right now, my focus is on supporting the team and helping the club secure results.”
“For now, things are looking good. We can keep pushing to improve, so that’s genuinely where my attention lies.”
Carrick was chosen for the role over his close friend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was appointed permanently in 2019 after successfully stepping in as interim following Jose Mourinho’s tenure.
While some skeptics reference Solskjaer’s time with the club during discussions about who might be a long-term successor to Amorim, Carrick views such comparisons as unproductive.
“I don’t see it as disrespectful,” Carrick remarked. “I have great respect for him.”
“He’s a close friend and we worked closely during his time here, so I feel a strong connection to that period. We achieved a lot of good things.”
“In the end, things shifted in a different direction. That’s just part of football.”
“You can draw comparisons to various managerial situations throughout history. It really depends on how one chooses to compare.”
“But it’s not significant. It isn’t negative or positive; it simply doesn’t hold relevance.”
“We are a different team now, regardless of who is managing; it is a different environment. Comparisons don’t really bear any weight.”
Harry Maguire remains one of the players from the Solskjaer era and will be back from a two-match suspension on Monday.
Leny Yoro will be evaluated after missing the recent win against Chelsea, while fellow defender Lisandro Martínez is suspended, and Matthijs de Ligt is sidelined with a back injury. Patrick Dorgu is also not yet ready to return.
PA contributed to this report.