{"id":546955,"date":"2026-04-23T19:29:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/546955\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T19:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:29:11","slug":"michael-carrick-downplays-irrelevant-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-comparisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/546955\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Carrick downplays \u2018irrelevant\u2019 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comparisons"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google <\/a> <\/p>\n

Michael Carrick has been compared to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by some of his critics, who believe Manchester United should appoint another former player to take control of the team on a permanent basis.<\/p>\n

In January, Michael Carrick was appointed Manchester United\u2019s interim head coach<\/a>. The 44-year-old replaced Ruben Amorim<\/a> and instantly helped the Red Devils get their season on track with wins over Premier League<\/a> title contenders Man City and Arsenal.<\/p>\n

Like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<\/a>, who was appointed interim manager in 2018 before an uplifting run that led to him getting the job, Carrick has been credited with improved results.<\/p>\n

Champions League qualification<\/a> could see Carrick given the job, with United currently sitting third in the Premier League with five games remaining.<\/p>\n

\"MichaelPhoto by Matthew Peters\/Manchester United via Getty Images Here\u2019s how the Premier League table looks now this weekend\u2019s games are complete \u2013 Confident?? <\/p>\n

There’s no way United will blow a top five place!<\/p>\n

\"\"Getty Images Michael Carrick believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comparisons are irrelevant<\/p>\n

Solskjaer\u2019s biggest fault as United manager was not winning a trophy.<\/p>\n

Carrick was part of the Norwegian\u2019s setup, responsible for giving United fans<\/a> a few good days out, but many factors went against them in the end.<\/p>\n

Some critics believe Carrick is destined for the same fate \u2013 as a former player and associate of Solskjaer.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a harsh take as Carrick has taken his own journey as a coach, and the team is very different now to what it was between 2018 and 2021.<\/p>\n

When asked about the Solskjaer comparisons, Carrick described them as \u2018irrelevant\u2019 and stressed that he still has a lot of respect for the former United striker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s disrespectful, I think I\u2019ve got the utmost respect for him,\u201d Carrick told reporters at his press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a close friend of mine so I worked closely with him when he was here so I was quite attached to that and I thought we did a lot of good things really and we became close and in the end obviously it changed and it went a different direction, that\u2019s football.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think comparisons, you could compare to all sorts of different situations and managers and coaches and teams over the years, it just depends on what you want to choose to compare.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s irrelevant really, it really is, and that\u2019s not a negative or a positive, it doesn\u2019t really have any link at all I think, we\u2019re a different team now, irrespective of me, who\u2019s in charge, it\u2019s a different time, so I don\u2019t really think comparisons literally make any difference at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Solskjaer missed out on the job in January, he will be wishing Carrick and his team nothing but the best.<\/p>\n

\u26a1\ufe0f NEWS IN BRIEFMichael Carrick reacts to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comparisonsComparisons are \u2018irrelevant\u2019, says CarrickSolskjaer earned the United job on a permanent basis after becoming interim manager Leny Yoro is uncertain to be fit vs Brentford: Are you happy with Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven starting the game regardless? <\/p>\n

Harry Maguire is back from suspension<\/p>\n

\"\"Getty Images Michael Carrick not afraid to lean on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for advice<\/p>\n

When Carrick returned to United earlier this year, he made it clear that he had spoken to Solskjaer.<\/p>\n

In doing so, Carrick made it clear that he is not afraid to seek advice from the former United manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I spoke to him,\u201d Carrick said, as quoted by ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m close, we\u2019ve been through a lot together, so he\u2019s been fully supportive as you\u2019d expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s some man and I respect him an awful lot, so, yeah, he wished us all the best and he was happy that we got the right result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Join Our Newsletter<\/p>\n

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