Michael Carrick’s possible replacement points out two important changes Man Utd needs to make as a big problem with Julian Nagelsmann comes up.
Julian Nagelsmann is now a top candidate to take over from Michael Carrick at Manchester United, and he already knows there are two big issues he needs to fix right away.
On Friday (October 23), Carrick held an emotional press conference before United’s home game against Bournemouth. This came just days after their tough 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League. The 45-year-old coach has been under a lot of pressure after not winning any of their last seven matches in all competitions. Because of this, several managers are being considered as possible replacements.
One strong name is former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte, but on Friday, he said talks with any club aren’t at an “advanced stage.” Another leading candidate is Julian Nagelsmann, who is currently free after stepping down as Germany’s manager in July after a disappointing World Cup loss to Paraguay.
Reports say Nagelsmann is ready and interested if Manchester United decides to let Carrick go. Carrick will lead the team for the Premier League game against Bournemouth on Sunday, but his future is uncertain. If the result is bad, the club might act quickly to make a change.
Whoever replaces Carrick will face a tough job. Many managers have tried and failed to bring United back to the top of English football. According to The Telegraph, the new manager’s biggest priority will be “bringing the dressing room into line.” Someone close to one of the candidates said, “They need order and discipline. The dressing room is out of control, and that’s the first thing to fix.”
Two major challenges for Nagelsmann would be dealing with Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes. Martinez criticized United’s transfer strategy after their defeat to Atletico Madrid, and things got even worse after the loss to Como. Fernandes openly questioned Carrick’s tactics, saying it was the manager’s choice not to press man-to-man, and admitted the team needed to be braver under pressure.
Both Martinez and Fernandes have contracts ending next summer, so making decisions about their futures is a big task for any new manager. Along with that, controlling other outspoken players will be key.
The report adds that Nagelsmann would want assurance about the club’s structure before joining since he turned down Tottenham and Chelsea jobs over this issue. He wants control over transfers, similar to what Chelsea promised Xabi Alonso when they hired him in May.
Manchester United might need to offer similar guarantees to attract a coach like Nagelsmann. If he does come in, here’s how he stacks up against Carrick:
Throughout his career managing RB Leipzig, Bayern, Hoffenheim, and Germany, Nagelsmann has won 247 of 432 matches, a win rate of about 57%. Carrick, with Middlesbrough and now United, has won 79 of 165 matches, which is a 47% win rate.
So, the club has some big decisions ahead as they think about what’s best for the future.