Fletcher, Solskjaer, Carrick: Schmeichel’s pick for the interim United dugout

Manchester United are all set to embark on the new manager appointment cycle once again after parting ways with Ruben Amorim earlier this week. The Portuguese head coach was the Red Devils’ sixth permanent manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, with the club still searching for the ideal successor to the legendary Scot.

Amorim lasted just 14 months in the Old Trafford dugout, the second-shortest tenure – after David Moyes – since Sir Alex’s retirement. The Portuguese head coach survived a 15th-placed finish last season, along with a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

However, INEOS ran out of patience midway through the current campaign, removing Amorim from the hot seat at the Theatre of Dreams after the 1-1 draw against Leeds United last weekend.

United have placed Darren Fletcher in charge of the first team for now, with the Scot overseeing the 2-2 draw against Burnley on Wednesday, 7 January, at Turf Moor. However, the Red Devils are expected to appoint a caretaker manager in the coming days, with a permanent manager likely to arrive in the summer.

A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the favourite for the caretaker role, although Michael Carrick is also in the running.

The Englishman worked under the Norwegian during his previous stint at the Theatre of Dreams. Current Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was also part of Ole’s backroom staff, and together they implemented a brand of attacking, entertaining football that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Unfortunately, things went haywire in Solskjaer’s third full season in charge, with the Norwegian losing his job in November 2021. By then, he had managed 91 wins in 168 games, with a 54.17% win ratio.

Source: Wikipedia .

With the Baby-Faced Assassin potentially closing in on a fairytale return to Old Trafford, one of his former teammates has shared his thoughts on the matter.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, as cited by Metro , United legend Peter Schmeichel said that he would like to see Solskjaer, Carrick and Fletcher together in the dugout. He said: “We are Manchester United and there aren’t that many Manchester United people back at the club to actually drive it in the direction that Manchester United should be driven at.

“It pleases me that the three of them [Fletcher, Solskjaer and Carrick] are mentioned. I mean, it’s a dream, for me, it’s a dream team if they could get all three to see out the rest of the season.”

“He (Fletcher) is a true servant to the club. He knows the club inside out, he’s won five Premier League titles with them, he’s got the DNA of Manchester United running through his blood. I think that is important right now because we’ve been through a period with a coach [Amorim] who didn’t want to play the way that Manchester United is supposed to play.”

“We’ve been through a period of quite a lot of managers and only one manager by the way, since Sir Alex Ferguson, had more than 100 games which is a staggering stat for me. We’ve been through a period where it hasn’t worked, with big, strong-name managers come in with their systems and their ideas and it hasn’t worked.”

“I like the idea that, at least for the next four months, the actual football will be run by people who have been there as players, have good qualities as coaches and know what Manchester United is supposed to be.”

The Peoples Person has recently relayed a report stating that United are not planning a Carrick-Solskjaer reunion at Old Trafford. As such, Schmeichel’s dream is unlikely to be fulfilled.

However, there’s no doubt that if the Norwegian is selected for the caretaker role, he will need the right people around him to help get the club out of troubled waters.

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