This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Michael Owen advocates for the continuation of Michael Carrick as the head coach of Manchester United, warning that the club's management would be ‘absolutely lynched’ if they dismissed him and his successor failed. With a record of seven wins and two draws in the first ten games, the coach has placed Manchester United in contention for a spot in the next edition of the Champions League, a performance that, according to Michael Owen, justifies his stay. The former Liverpool legend, who also played at Old Trafford, expresses his ‘perplexity’ at the doubts raised by figures like Roy Keane and Gary Neville regarding the appointment of his former teammate. In statements reported by the Daily Mail, the commentator argues that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the rest of the management team would make a grave mistake by not following up on Carrick's good work, especially after a series of failed appointments since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. ‘Imagine if they got rid of Michael Carrick, just imagine, and brought in whoever – I don’t care who, even a born winner, someone they’ve had before. Imagine if things started to go downhill again; the management would be absolutely lynched,’ emphasizes Owen. The 2001 Ballon d'Or winner questions the hesitation surrounding the coach. ‘I’m perplexed by certain people who say no, that he shouldn’t be appointed. Perplexed. Why is this even a question? I don’t understand. What more can he do?’ he asked, adding: ‘This Manchester United team seems to be on the way back. Why would you interfere with anything?’ Owen recalls the various attempts by the club to find a worthy successor to Ferguson: ‘They’ve tried everything: proven coaches, the Van Gaals, they had Mourinhos, David Moyes, then they bet on former players like Solskjaer. Then they went a bit more unorthodox and appointed one or two others. The new rising Portuguese superstar, Amorim, or Ralf Rangnick. They’ve tried practically everything and, after a dozen years of trying and failing, they find someone who is managing to get results from the players.’ For the former forward, the decision is simple: ‘If the league had started with Carrick, Manchester United would be leaders. We would be a third of the way through the season and Man United would be at the top of the league. We would be thinking, well, can they win the league?’
With Carrick Michael Owen remains central to this story.
With Carrick Michael Owen remains central to this story.
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