Gab Sutton says Michael Carrick needs strong backroom staff to be a success at Manchester United

EFL football guru Gab Sutton believes Michael Carrick needs the perfect blend of backroom staff if he is to make a success of things at Manchester United.

Former Red Devils midfielder Carrick, 44, is widely expected to be unveiled as the new Manchester United manager on Tuesday, with club chiefs seeing him as the best choice to take charge until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim's sudden sacking last week.

It is expected that Carrick will only be United manager until the summer, when a more experienced top-level coach will be appointed. However, strong performance in that interim spell could leave the United board with a difficult choice to make.

Sutton, who is one of the most respected journalists covering English football's lower tiers, became well versed in Carrick's managerial approach during his only previous long-term gig – a near three-year stint in charge of Championship outfit Middlesbrough between October 2022 and June 2025.

And while he sees plenty of positives in the way the Tynesider likes to coach his teams, he also has reservations about Carrick's ability to develop a strong underbelly in a side.

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'Excellent in-possession coach' Carrick needs right people around him

Sutton told Odds Now: "Michael Carrick proved himself at Middlesbrough to be an excellent in-possession coach, who built one of the most creative sides in the Championship.

"I think he has the potential to be part a successful management team, but he definitely needs somebody else who’s a strong out-of-possession coach, and someone who can be firm with players too.

"My perception of Carrick is that he wants to instil confidence in his players, but sometimes that can leave him letting the small things go, which incrementally can see his sides become weak, soft and easy to score against. That’s if he doesn’t have the right people around him.

"Whereas, if he has the yin to his yang – someone who can give his players a kick up the backside so that he can then give them a cuddle – the balance could be right.

"That said, in terms of anything longer-term at Manchester United, I suspect there may be better options."

Tuchel could be the best long-term option for Manchester United role

Paddy Power have been swift to go up with a market on who will be the Manchester United manager for the start of the 2026-27 season, with Carrick a 4/7 favourite by virtue of supposedly being the current incumbent.

However, there's no shortage of alternatives listed, with the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Oliver Glasner, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate and Andoni Iraola seen as contenders.

Sutton thinks the fact United are opting to wait until summer to make a permanent appointment may offer punters some clues with regards to their top target:

He said: "I think the fact they're making an interim appointment until the summer suggests they're waiting for a permanent option who will become available then, which hints at Thomas Tuchel. I think he's the value play at 10/1 right now.

"Carrick is a logical option from a punting perspective, seeing as he has the best job interview process anyone can have which is the chance to show he can get results with these players.

"But while there's a chance that leads to him getting into the hot-seat, I wouldn't have the probability at 4/7. I also like Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola as coaches – though they may have their eyes elsewhere.

"If I was on the committee, I'd be going for Tuchel, and allow Carrick and Fletcher to take a lead on pre-season."

Carrick is widely expected to be in post before Manchester United's next fixture – a tasty derby against Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.

United are a best-priced 14/5 with Coral for the victory there, while City are just under even money across the board to inflict more misery on their beleaguered neighbours.