Carrick has overtaken Solskjaer as Manchester United's top choice for interim manager, with the behind-the-scenes reasons revealed! An official announcement is expected on Monday.

After last weekend’s interviews, a major shift occurred in Manchester United’s choice for interim head coach, with club legend Michael Carrick replacing Solskjaer as the preferred option to lead the Red Devils through the remainder of the season. The current caretaker coach Darren Fletcher will move back to coaching the Under-18 squad.

Following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal last Monday, both Carrick and Solskjaer held initial discussions with Manchester United’s leadership, with Solskjaer still the favorite at the time. However, Carrick met face-to-face with CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox on Thursday, while Solskjaer’s interview took place on Saturday.

According to the UK’s Guardian, Manchester United has yet to make formal offers to either interim manager candidate, but Carrick is expected to receive a contract through the end of the season. Berrada and Wilcox aim to give the appointed interim coach ample preparation time ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford against Manchester City.

Fletcher managed United’s last two matches: a 2-2 draw with Burnley in the Premier League and a 1-2 home defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup third round. After the games, players were booed by fans, and the new manager will face even tougher challenges, with upcoming matches against Manchester City and Arsenal. Although only the Premier League remains, the club must strive to finish in the top four or at least top five to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Rob Dorsett from Sky Sports UK explained that Carrick’s statements during the interview won him the club’s approval, surpassing Solskjaer’s popularity. Particularly, United’s transfer chief Christopher Viveil strongly supports the 44-year-old Red Devils legend, believing he has a more tactical and systematic approach, unlike Solskjaer who relied more on motivating the team mentally.

Dorsett elaborated: "As far as I know, Manchester United will accelerate detailed negotiations in the next day or two. Carrick performed excellently in meetings with the club’s senior management, though he is well aware of Solskjaer’s previous popularity as head coach. Crucial negotiations and decisions are expected tomorrow.”

talkSPORT radio also reported that Manchester United might make a decision on Monday, noting Carrick’s impressive performance during the interview process. Carrick previously served as an assistant coach under Mourinho and Solskjaer at United, and briefly took over as caretaker after Solskjaer’s departure. Afterwards, Carrick left United to manage Middlesbrough in the Championship, achieving 16 wins in 23 matches and leading the team to the playoff semifinals.

This mid-season managerial experience is likely one of Carrick’s credentials for taking over at Manchester United. On October 24, 2022, Carrick was appointed Middlesbrough’s head coach. At his arrival, the team was 21st in the Championship with 17 points from 16 games, just one point above the relegation zone, but Carrick quickly turned the situation around.

Unfortunately, in the following two seasons, Carrick struggled to maintain momentum. Although he guided Middlesbrough to the League Cup semifinals, the team finished 8th and 10th in the Championship respectively, missing out on promotion playoffs, which eventually led to his dismissal.

However, Keith Wyness, former CEO of Everton and Aston Villa, told Football Insider that he understands why Manchester United’s leadership values Carrick.

“If I were currently sitting in the CEO position at Manchester United, I wouldn’t necessarily make some of the decisions they have already made, but I would focus on uniting the club and truly harnessing internal strength. I would appoint someone like Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season. I hope he leads the team to good results, bringing everyone at United together to stand strong against the world. I believe that’s the kind of atmosphere needed and the key to their potential success.”

Wyness emphasized: “Carrick enjoys strong support from both fans and within the club, giving him a very solid managerial position. I think I would take a similar approach, working to create a ‘us against the world’ mentality. Trying different football formations and theories isn’t traditionally United’s style. The Red Devils want to be a powerhouse and must regain that winning spirit from the past. That’s the direction I want the team to go. So far, no candidate has truly excited me, but if I were managing United now, this would be my focus.”