Dimitar Berbatov has told Manchester United to hold their fire on handing Michael Carrick the manager’s job permanently, despite the interim boss’s flawless start. The former United striker, a teammate of Carrick’s during their trophy laden spell, has urged patience, pointing to the cautionary tale of Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
United have been transformed under Carrick, winning four on the spin against City, Arsenal, Fulham and Spurs to crash into the top four. The mood around Old Trafford has shifted dramatically, but Berbatov reckons it’s too soon for a permanent decision.
“I am a bit biased, I want him to get the job but let’s wait until the end of the season,” Berbatov told ESPN FC. “We have seen what happened before with Ole, I think it was the same story so let’s not jump to conclusions yet. Let’s just enjoy game by game how United is improving.”
The Bulgarian legend, who won five titles alongside Carrick, believes the interim gaffer’s man management is key to the stunning revival. He puts the new found swagger down to Carrick’s elite communication.
“I think he knows how to speak the language to get the players to feel appreciated, to trust him,” Berbatov said. “The most important things, the players, are still the same. We can all see how they play now with flair, with belief, with arrogance when they need to. It’s a joy to watch.”
Carrick’s record speaks for itself so far: four games, four wins, and a squad suddenly playing with a cohesion and confidence missing for most of the season. The challenge now is sustaining it. “He’s in this position to show he’s capable. Until the end of the season will be a test, and then we’ll see,” Berbatov added.
The immediate test is a trip to West Ham on Tuesday night. A victory there would make it five consecutive league wins for the first time since 2024, piling even more pressure on the United board to consider Carrick a serious candidate. But as Berbatov warns, the memory of how Solskjær’s permanent appointment unfolded after a similar honeymoon period looms large in the minds of many. The real judgement, for both Carrick and the club’s hierarchy, comes when the season reaches its crunch point.
