Dundee

Michael Carrick makes Man United coaching staff plea after Sir Jim Ratcliffe meeting

Michael Carrick said his meeting with Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week was a "casual chat" over a cup of tea, as speculation hots up that he is on course to stay on as the club's head coach. Ratcliffe was at Carrington at the start of last week and he caught up with Carrick during his visit, but there was no job offer for the 44-year-old, who has delivered eight wins and two draws in his 12 games in charge. Carrick is in pole position to land the job on a permanent basis this summer, but played down the substance of his meeting with Ratcliffe, 73, who is a semi-regular visitor to the club's training ground. Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter "He came in. We had a chat. We had a cup of tea. Casual chat, to be honest, it was nice to see him showing his support, obviously," said Carrick. "That was it. It was quite informal, but it was nice to see him. I think as a football club we're hugely connected all the way through. "I think it's a big part and I’m really conscious of that's how it should be, and I am trying to do my part with that, as well as is everybody else. So, I've felt that since I've been here since January for sure." With a host of big-name bosses unavailable this summer, Carrick is leading the race to be named head coach on a permanent basis, having steered United to the brink of a return to the Champions League . He has won the players' praise, who have also been impressed by the sessions laid on by a coaching team thrown together at the last minute. Carrick brought Jonathan Woodgate with him from his time working at Middlesbrough, while he knew Jonny Evans from their days together at Old Trafford . But he had never worked with experienced No. 2 Steve Holland before, and Travis Binnion was promoted to a first-team role from the academy. Despite putting the group together at short notice, Carrick has been delighted with their impact, and if he does land the job on a permanent basis, he is keen to keep his staff with him. "Even though we came together specifically for the role here, we're all very clear in terms of what it looks like," said Carrick. It's not something that we need to overly discuss, to be honest. I think we're all on the same page. "We know it. It's pretty obvious, you know. I keep saying the same things in some ways every week, but it is what is. We're right, we're fine with that, and the coaches are fine with that. "Sometimes you connect with people and you get on and you work together and you work well. For me, it is all about people, whether that's players or staff or supporters., family, whatever it is. I think connecting with people is really important to try and get the best out of each other. "I have to say the staff have been absolutely top-class in different ways, different personalities, different roles. To come together in a coaching office that's not much bigger than the desk, to be around the desk day in day out when it's new and it's fresh takes a lot of effort, but credit to everyone, it's been all positive since we came together in January."

2026-04-27