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Michael Carrick Tipped for Permanent Manchester United Post by Ex-England Teammate

Steven Gerrard has claimed Manchester United fans could convince the club to appoint Michael Carrick as permanent manager at the end of the season.

Carrick has excelled as an interim so far, winning six of his seven fixtures and guiding the Red Devils to third in the table.

Qualification for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League looks increasingly realistic, a scenario that would have felt fanciful to many supporters just two months ago when Ruben Amorim was relieved of his duties.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has suggested that Carrick is the nail-on choice for United, and there is not much more he can do, particularly given the groundswell of support he currently enjoys among the United fanbase.

"If a big-name, world-class manager is available and there for the taking, I'm sure they're going to look at it, but Michael Carrick can't do any more," Gerrard told TNT Sports before Liverpool's shock 2-1 away loss to bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"If he continues this form from now until the end of the season, then you've got a decision where the fans are involved as well. The fans will want Michael in."

“If this form continues, they will have a difficult decision not to keep him”

Steven Gerrard shares his thoughts on whether Michael Carrick should be made permanent manager of Man United 👀

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To reinforce his point, Gerrard believes that Manchester United are “nailed on for a top-five position.”

Given England’s position at the summit of UEFA’s coefficient rankings (currently 4.8 points clear of Spain in third), a top-five finish would secure qualification for the next edition of the Champions League.

Yet the trajectory suggests United are no longer merely targeting fifth. Since the turn of the year, they have accumulated 21 league points—the highest in the league—averaging 2.333 points per game (PPG).

Michael Carrick extended his unbeaten run in charge of Manchester United to seven games, with his sixth victory ✅🔴 pic.twitter.com/QxqPpTH4lL
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By comparison, their Champions League rivals have struggled to match that pace. Chelsea have collected 15 points at 1.66 PPG, Liverpool 15 at 1.5 PPG, and Aston Villa 12 at 1.33 PPG.

"They don't have to make a decision now. He's done a phenomenal job since he came in; he can't do any more.” Gerrard explained.

"If that continues and he keeps this team in a good place right until the end of the season, I think they'll have a difficult decision not to keep him."

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart also told TNT Sports, "They want to give him a chance, but at the same time they're in that merry-go-round where people are going to want to have top managers in the summer, so they've got to start making contact with people, but can't promise anything. It's really difficult."

Manchester United travel to Newcastle United tonight for an 8:15 pm kick-off.

Victory at St James’ Park would all but cement their hold on third place, while further reinforcing their push towards Champions League qualification.