Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is under tremendous pressure after a seven-match winless run. The Red Devils’ last victory was a 4-0 triumph over Sabah in the Champions League last month, and they have lost four matches and drawn three since then.
The English giants are now 13th in the Premier League table and 20th in the Champions League table. Michael Carrick’s team has already bowed out of the EFL Cup in the third round at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion.
The English manager is under intense scrutiny, with the team looking like a shadow of the one that played scintillating football under him and finished third last season. Recent reports have suggested that United are eyeing several possible candidates for the hot seat at Old Trafford, including former Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann.
Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn has now offered his views on the matter.
Nagelsmann advised against United job
Speaking on Triple – der Hagedorn Fußballtalk on RTL/Sky Sport, as cited by Sport1, Kahn argued that the United job could be a risky proposition for Nagelsmann. He said: “From his point of view, this is not an easy situation.”
“He is not someone with a great deal of experience, particularly when it comes to foreign teams. And Manchester United are not known for having had continuity in the managerial position in recent years.”
“He must be asking himself: What’s my next move? Does it have to be a sure-fire success? Or should I take a huge risk like the one at Manchester United, where, basically, every manager has failed sooner or later in recent years?”
Julian Nagelsmann: Managerial Career Stats
| Team | Season | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2015–16 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 50.00 |
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2016–17 | 36 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 47.22 |
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2017–18 | 44 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 38.64 |
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2018–19 | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 33.33 |
| TSG Hoffenheim total | - | 136 | 55 | 43 | 38 | 40.44 |
| RB Leipzig | 2019–20 | 47 | 26 | 14 | 7 | 55.32 |
| RB Leipzig | 2020–21 | 48 | 28 | 8 | 12 | 58.33 |
| RB Leipzig total | - | 95 | 54 | 22 | 19 | 56.84 |
| Bayern Munich | 2021–22 | 47 | 33 | 7 | 7 | 70.21 |
| Bayern Munich | 2022–23 | 37 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 72.97 |
| Bayern Munich total | - | 84 | 60 | 14 | 10 | 71.43 |
| Germany | 2023 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 25.00 |
| Germany | 2024 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 66.67 |
| Germany | 2025 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 60.00 |
| Germany | 2026 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Germany total | - | 37 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 62.16 |
| Career total | - | 352 | 192 | 86 | 74 | 54.55 |
Source: Wikipedia.
United have a poor managerial record since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement
Kahn also pointed out that several managers have failed to live up to Sir Alex Ferguson’s standards since the Scottish manager’s retirement in 2013. He continued: “You really do need to take a close look at where you’re heading,”
“Following in Alex Ferguson’s footsteps is a tricky business. They’ve had great managers who haven’t managed to make any headway there.”
Carrick is United’s seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex’s retirement, with the club yet to win the Premier League or the Champions League since the Scot’s departure. Only Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag won silverware during their time at Old Trafford, but none of them managed to spend three years in the hot seat.
However, Kahn acknowledged that Nagelsmann should take the job if he feels confident he can get United back among the top tier of European football. He concluded: “If Julian is convinced that he is the one who can get Manchester United back on track, then he should give it a go.”
Roman Weidenfeller, who was present alongside Kahn as a guest on the show, added that German managers are quite popular abroad, saying: “I do believe that German managers – particularly Julian Nagelsmann – are very popular abroad.”
Final Thoughts
Carrick’s situation could be further compounded if United fail to pick up a win against Bournemouth this weekend. The Red Devils host the Cherries at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday, 25 October, having won just one of their seven league matches this season.
Featured image by Alexander Hassenstein via Getty Images
