Michael Carrick: Would it be more of a gamble by Man Utd not to appoint michael carrick full-time?

michael carrick presided over a comeback 2-1 win against 10-man Crystal Palace that moved Manchester United up to third in the Premier League, extending his unbeaten run in charge to seven games. The match and Carrick’s comments about his staff and players have intensified debate over whether the interim boss should be given the job permanently.

Early setback and dressing-room moment

Maxence Lacroix headed Crystal Palace in front after four minutes at Old Trafford, and United trailed at half-time. Carrick told his players in the dressing room: "Things have been going in our favour, so at half-time I said to them, 'here's something I've been waiting for, this moment'. " He continued the words he had used: "It was, 'go on then, what are we going to do about it?'. " Carrick added: "You've got to find a way in games sometimes. It was a case of how do we react?"

Michael Carrick's response

United grew into the game as the first half progressed and, after Lacroix's 56th-minute dismissal, Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting spot-kick. Carrick described the situation: "It was a test for us going in a goal down at half-time. New for us. We didn't start the game great, credit to Palace they did. We grew into the game as the half went on. Second half, we stepped up again. "

Sesko, Fernandes and the deciding moments

Bruno Fernandes' nerveless penalty levelled the match and Benjamin Sesko headed the winner, his seventh goal in eight games since Ruben Amorim's dismissal as head coach on 5 January. Sesko, a Slovenian, had also scored three important goals off the bench in February, and "Benjamin's key goals across February have helped earn him the trophy, " one club statement noted. The game finished 2-1 after the sequence of Lacroix's sending off, the penalty equaliser and Sesko's powerful header.

Coaches and player development

Carrick has highlighted the backroom team brought in since his appointment at Old Trafford. He said his staff are doing "really great work" to develop players and named Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate as new arrivals, with Travis Binnion and Jonny Evans continuing roles they held during Darren Fletcher's interim stint. Binnion, previously coach of the Under-21s, has worked closely with the forwards "sometimes as a unit, sometimes as a group and as individuals, " Carrick said. "Trav has done quite a bit of work with the forwards; sometimes as a unit, sometimes as a group and as individuals. "

Form, records and the wider context

Six wins and a draw from his seven games in charge means it is seven and two overall for Carrick, who beat Arsenal and drew with Chelsea in the Premier League during his first stint as temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's dismissal in November 2021. That equals the joint-best return from the first nine games as manager from anyone in the competition's history. "The run they have been on has been a shock to everybody, " Gary Neville said pre-match, adding: "Michael would not have expected this in his wildest dreams. He has to keep it going until the end of the season. Today is a big part of that. These games can trip you up. Michael is in the box seat for the job. Looking at what is happening now, I think they will qualify for the Champions League. "

Support, caution and comparisons

Supporters sustained singing for Carrick as he made a lap of appreciation with his players after the final whistle; Luke Shaw missed the lap after he was substituted in the first half due to illness. But club decision-makers may be cautious about making a permanent appointment. Seven years ago Carrick was part of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's backroom team as the Norwegian started a temporary tenure with eight successive wins in all competitions, taking 32 points from a possible 36 and then finishing the campaign with eight from eight games after confirmation in the post. The equal first-nine-game record was previously held sole by Ange Postecoglou, though the way that spell ended at Tottenham is a reminder not to overstate current form. The discussion also notes other managers' contract news: Thomas Tuchel already extending his contract with England and Carlo Ancelotti about to with Brazil.

Carrick praised the collaborative work behind the scenes: "It’s about the conversations, relationships, connections and support. It is important that we try to provide that for all the players. " He added: "The coaches are doing really great work, I’m sitting here and kind of answering the questions but there is a lot of work that goes on underneath that. " He singled out the contributions of the coaching group: "Trav has been a big part of that in so many ways, as has Steve, Woody, and Jonny. "