Kieran McKenna was invited to sit in the “directors’ box” at Old Trafford. The former long-time Man Utd assistant coach and successful coach at Ipswich until the summer saw the Red Devils give up a 2-0 lead to a 2-3 defeat to Brighton in the League Cup. Not many hours later, rumours swirled about McKenna as a candidate to take over for Carrick if the autumn is as leaden as the start of the season. At the same time, Antonio Conte is reported to be in the equation at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick has the full confidence of the United management (until he doesn’t). They have already blundered by giving Erik ten Hag a second round, only to be sacked a few months later, then Ruben Amorim who was tipped out after 14 months. It will take a lot for the decision to give Carrick the permanent job to also end in a panicked dismissal. Still, we have seen it before, and will not be surprised if Carrick is dumped without results in November.
READ: Manchester United supporters promise the club’s second highest-paid player will deliver
According to English Hard Tackle , Antonio Conte is in as a possible replacement for Carrick. The Italian coach is as usual out of work after 1-2 seasons at the same club, so the availability is there. Conte or McKenna. We don’t understand why it is not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who is promoted as the natural replacement for Carrick.
Solskjaer came close to getting the job as interim coach after the Ruben Amorim exit, but the choice ultimately fell on Carrick. No one complained when Carrick left from the start as interim coach with consecutive wins, something Ruben Amorim during his fourteen months in the job failed to do. It ended with a strong 3rd place in the Premier League. It was therefore startlingly weak to see United come out of preseason with permanent coach Carrick for the first Premier League game with a 2-0 loss to newly promoted Hull City. Yes, there have been convincing wins against Ipswich and Sabah FK, but even the most ardent United supporter is not impressed by this.
Read on F7: Tottenham could end up panic signing football’s “bad boy”
Anyone remember how it went with Manchester United in the first Premier League round of Solskjaer’s first season as permanent coach (2019/20 season)?
Chelsea travelled to Old Trafford and were sent to the shower with a 4-0 loss! Talk about the start of the season for the Red Devils. The contrast between two backwards and no goals against newly promoted Hull City was great.
Of course, it’s “only” about the first few games, but the players’ mentality, performances and the coach’s coaching in the first leg say a lot about how ready the club is for the new season. Under Erik ten Hag’s and Ruben Amoriom’s wobbly leadership, we have written repeatedly that “Now is the time to call Solskjaer”.
When Antonio Conte is now brought up as a potential replacement for Carrick, we just say: Forget Conte, you already have Ole Gunnar!
