Rene Meulensteen: Is Michael Carrick Still Building His Case at Manchester United?

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports, former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has given his perspective on whether Michael Carrick is still building his case for the job and warns that conversations should’ve already taken place rather than rash decisions.

Rene speaks candidly about Gary Neville’s scepticism and earmarks where he sees the club’s biggest areas for improvement if they’re to realise their ambitions.

Elsewhere, he gives a glowing report on PSG manager Luis Enrique, saying he would “definitely” bring success to his former club.

Michael Carrick

Is the Man Utd Job Still in the Balance for Michael Carrick?

Michael Carrick is still building a case for himself and wants to finish on a high; every win will cement his candidacy to take the job. He'll be a bit disappointed with the draw, although credit must go to Sunderland . They've had a very good season and a very good home record. To be honest, looking at the chances Sunderland created, United were maybe a little fortunate to get away with a draw there.

Michael will definitely want to finish on a high, but with the players, it's almost subconscious that they've done the main job; they've secured Champions League football. A lot of players are going to the World Cup and have their minds on that as well. They don't want to get injured.

They have two more games to go, two big games, to be honest. They're not the easiest because Nottingham Forest still needs to make sure they do their job, and Brighton is never an easy game, as they are still trying to get into Europe . Interesting few weeks ahead, that's for sure. If he would have taken the job four months earlier, they would have been on the heels of Man City .

Would Two Losses Cost Carrick the Job?

If you are making such an important decision about the future of the club, you should never let the emotions of winning or losing a game influence you. By this time, the conversation should have already been held. If I were the CEO or the person responsible for hiring or not hiring Michael Carrick , I would have already spoken with him. I would have said, listen, Michael , present me with the plan. How do you think you're going to make Manchester United a title challenger next season, not in two or three years, but next year? What do we need to keep? What do we need to add? And how are you going to go about it? Those conversations should have already taken place.

Now, is Manchester United going to hold out for a potential other manager that might become available? Earlier in the year, there were rumours that Luis Enrique wouldn't continue with Paris Saint-Germain , and straight away, he was linked, which is obviously a big name and a manager with a proven pedigree.

The one thing that counts for Michael Carrick is that he's played for the club; he knows what it is to be in a successful environment and culture, and he knows what is expected from Manchester United . He carries himself well, and the players respond really well. But on the other hand, he hasn't managed Manchester United throughout a Champions League campaign, and he hasn't won any trophies as a manager yet. That's constantly the debate people will have.

The most important thing for the hierarchy of Manchester United , in my opinion, is to listen really carefully to the key players in that squad at this moment in time. Listen to how they felt Michael has done over the last period that he took over. I'm sure they will all be very positive because it shows in the results and the performances. It's a bit of a catch-22, but those conversations should have already been held, and that decision behind the scenes should already have been made. That should have been clarified to Michael : brilliant, well done, we put you in as an interim but this is where it stops, we're going to go for X, Y, Z. Or: Michael , we put you in as an interim but you've done a fantastic job, you've convinced us that you know where we want to go, we're going to give you another year or two years.

Gary Neville

Is Gary Neville Right to Be Unsure About Carrick?

Gary Neville knows Michael because he played with him. He knows what he is and how he is. I've got the highest regards for Michael Carrick personally, and I think he's done a fantastic job. All those people that say that next year is too early for Man United, it's a lot of nonsense. With a few good additions, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton replacing Casemiro , I also think there is a problem with the backline. They need to strengthen in there. I still think the biggest problem for Man United is in the back line, not necessarily in the midfield going forward, especially when you have someone like Bruno Fernandes . It's still that they're vulnerable at the back. Giving Harry Maguire another contract, I'm not 100% convinced that that's the right thing to do. I don't think Man United has got the best centre-back combination, because I think there are better ones out there playing every week in the Premier League .

I know where Gary Neville is coming from. From a historic point of view, Sir Alex Ferguson was always competing for the Premier League and Champions League . So we need to have somebody of a calibre that knows what it is like to win the Champions League or the Premier League . That is, I think, where it's coming from.

Luis Enrique

Would Luis Enrique Be the Dream Next Manager?

Luis Enrique would definitely bring huge excitement to Man Utd . However, we know a little bit about where the whole situation with Ruben Amorim derailed. If you're reading between the lines, that also had something to do with the hierarchy in terms of recruitment and responsibilities. I'm sure that Enrique is very focused on the sort of top players that he wants, because his messaging has been very clear.

Look at Ousmane Dembele at Barcelona; he was half the player that he was because he didn't want to put the work in. He was playing in different positions. And I think it has been very simple: if we want to be successful, this is what I want you to do. We're going to press, we're going to work hard, we're going to do this. If you can't do that, see you later. Very simple, very straightforward.

He would want exactly the same if he were to take over, not only at Man Utd but any other club. But the thing is this, you need to think about the thinking behind a person like Enrique , because where is his next challenge? He was in Barcelona , now PSG , another Champions League final, and he's probably going to win the league in France again. The biggest possible challenge for him next is in the Premier League .

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