Champions League bound\u00a0<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n\n \u00a9TM\/IMAGO<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Michael Carrick strengthened his case to be appointed as Manchester United\u2019s permanent manager with a hugely significant 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday evening. The result moved United ten points clear of sixth placed Chelsea in the league table and all but secured Champions League qualification with just five games remaining. Carrick has transformed United\u2019s fortunes since replacing R\u00faben Amorim in early January, propelling them from seventh in the English Premier League table to third. Carrick\u2019s tremendous impact can be highlighted by the statistic that United have amassed more points (26) than any other club since his installation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The poignant question is whether the 44-year-old will be handed the reins on a permanent basis and Carrick admitted post-Chelsea that he\u2019s received no indication of a potential decision. \u201cI understand the situation, it’s a bit out of my hands,\u201d he told TNT. \u201cYou want to be a part of nights like this, part of special things, create a team. I haven’t decided how long that’s going to be, but I love being here. While I’m here, I’ll give everything I can\u201d. Naturally, Carrick\u2019s impact has been compared to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s in 2019 when the Norwegian was eventually installed permanently and we\u2019ve compared their two starts in the United dugout.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Firstly, we\u2019ve only analysed Carrick\u2019s statistics from this season and excluded his three-game spell at caretaker in 2021. The former England international stepped up from his role as first-team coach after Solskjaer was sacked, but there was never any realistic prospect of him landing the job permanently. As the graphic below illustrates, Solskjaer\u2019s record across his first 12 games in charge is marginally superior to Carrick with the Norwegian collecting 31 points to the Englishman\u2019s 26 – three of Solskjaer’s first 12 games were in cup competitions but points have been used for the benefit of comparison.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/tmssl.akamaized.net\/\/images\/foto\/newsansicht\/carrick-form-1776696844-195207.png?lm=1776696851\")
<\/p>\nMichael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s Man United starts examined<\/h2>\n
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Interestingly, Solskjaer’s United team scored more goals across his start, conceded fewer and his points per game record was much better – 2.58 compared to 2.17. Carrick, however, faced a much more difficult fixture list to start and he guided United to impressive wins against Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham in three of his first four games. Despite consecutive losses to Arsenal and Wolves, Solskjaer was handed the reins on a permanent basis after 19 games in charge, while Carrick finished with 17 fixtures under his belt at the end of the season. Carrick has unquestionably made a brilliant case to be managed next season and that\u2019s boosted by a lack of credible, top-level alternatives but United\u2019s hierarchy have a massive decision on their hands after the failed appointment of Amorim.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n