Rio Ferdinand names manager he would take ahead of Michael Carrick at Man Utd | Football

Rio Ferdinand says Michael Carrick has ‘earned the right’ to manage Manchester United in a full-time capacity – but Luis Enrique would be his ‘first choice’ if the opportunity was ‘up for grabs’.

Carrick picked up the pieces from Ruben Amorim’s turbulent reign in January, with morale seemingly at an all-time low in the dressing room and the club languishing down in seventh place in the Premier League.

The 44-year-old enjoyed a phenomenal start in his interim role, leading the Red Devils on a seven-match unbeaten streak, which included back-to-back victories over the Premier League’s top two in Arsenal and Manchester City.

United’s run was eventually brought to halt by Newcastle at the beginning of March, but Bruno Fernandes and Co bounced back immediately against Aston Villa – and a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to bitter rivals Leeds remains the only other major blemish on Carrick’s record.

With Champions League qualification now guaranteed, Carrick will look to further strengthen his case for the permanent position in United’s last remaining fixtures versus Nottingham Forest and Brighton.

Reports earlier this week claimed Old Trafford bosses had seen enough, with formal discussions underway with a view to appointing the ex-United and England midfielder on a full-time basis.

And with the feel-good factor well and truly back at the Theatre of Dreams, Ferdinand sees no reason why his former team-mate should not be in the dugout on the opening day of next season.

‘He’s earned the right to get an opportunity to manage Manchester United,’ Ferdinand told talkSPORT.

‘We have to remember that Michael Carrick was brought into the football club when Manchester United were seventh in the league.

‘People at the time were going, “You know what? I just hope he keeps us out of the relegation battle, I’d be happy to stay up”, but he’s taken us to third convincingly and we’re looking closer to second than anywhere near the relegation pack.

‘Just on that, on that merit alone, he deserves an opportunity. For anybody I keep hearing saying, “He’s this, he’s that”, we drew away to Sunderland the other day… that’s been a tough place for many teams to go this season.

‘An away trip in the Premier League is no gimme so he’s done a magnificent job, he deserves the opportunity, he deserves to get some resources put behind him in the transfer window.

‘I think Manchester United have been very good in the last transfer window or two so if that can continue and he gets some more players to reinforce his squad…

‘I get the questions, “Ah, there’s going to be more games next season”… so? You have to work that out. He’s earned the opportunity to work that out, that’s not a stick to beat him with I don’t think. Give him the opportunity.’

Considering the apparent lack of realistic alternatives, Carrick would be Ferdinand’s primary choice to be appointed this summer – as things stand.

However, the former United centre-back would cast aside the work Carrick has done over the last four months if a deal were to present itself for Paris Saint-Germain head coach Enrique.

‘He [Carrick] would be my first choice given the lack of options that are around right now, given what he’s done and the lack of options,’ Ferdinand explained.

‘The only people I would be looking at seriously and going, “Do you know what? Regardless of what Carrick has done”… Luis Enrique, if he came up for grabs.

‘He’s the manager of the current Champions League winners, the current team that are in there to win it for back-to-back titles and they’re the best team on the planet.

‘He’s a great manager. If he’s available then I don’t care what Michael Carrick has done, you take him because of what he’s achieved.

‘But everyone else… Carlo Ancelotti has re-signed with Brazil, Thomas Tuchel has re-signed with England. Who else is jumping off the page with no question marks where you would go with them wholeheartedly.

‘So all these people gesturing and questioning Michael Carrick, just get behind the guy, he’s earned the right and give him a chance.’

Since returning to Old Trafford, Carrick has been keen to distance himself from any talk and speculation over his future, intent instead on focusing on purely footballing matters.

‘There’s not that much noise… It’s only noise if you listen to it,’ he said last month.

‘It doesn’t affect me one bit. I’m doing the best I can, loving it, and we keep pushing for more.

‘Whatever is going to happen is going to happen.’

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