Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen has revealed he always knew Michael Carrick had the ability to become a manager – and has offered a prediction for what the Englishman will expect from his side next season. Carrick’s at the Wheel After a superb spell as interim boss, which would have defied even INEOS’s most optimistic predictions, Manchester United’s hierarchy have decided to stick with Carrick as their permanent head coach. Since the Wallsend native took charge in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal in January, no other side has picked up more points in the Premier League. Eleven wins, three draws and two losses is title-winning form. But the improvements on the pitch have been matched off it. There is a much greater sense of camaraderie amongst the squad and staff, with players no longer wary of their manager criticising them in public. Press conferences have transitioned from prime time box office under Amorim to more reserved and cordial affairs under Carrick. The former England international has even found time to regularly support the academy sides – a crucial foundation of Manchester United’s identity which Amorim had little appreciation for. His son, Jacey, plays for the under-16s side and he has been an attendee long before taking the reins at Old Trafford. Carrick has put pen to paper on a two-year plus one deal, with assistant coach Steve Holland also signing the same contract. And Meulensteen, Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man from 2008 until 2013, is adamant Carrick will have ambitions of matching the success he enjoyed as a player. “I can challenge for the title” Speaking to TEAMtalk, Meulensteen stressed that the expectation on Carrick will be success, as that is the baseline for the Red Devils. “He will be expected to win, or at the very least challenge for the Premier League title because that’s what any manager needs to do when they go to Manchester United,” Meulensteen said. “You are there to win trophies, and you are there to challenge for the Premier League. Ignore the fact that United has been mismanaged over a number of years. Yes, there have been a few little trophies down recent years, but not of the calibre that you expect United to win. And that is exactly what the expectation will now be. “Michael will know this, but I can tell you that is exactly the expectation that Michael would have anyway.” The 62-year-old coach, who won eight major trophies with Manchester United, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008, believes Carrick will have stressed the importance of “big signings” to success next year. “Michael’s response possibly would be okay, I’m happy to do that, but I need X, Y and Z to make this happen – three big signings who can really deliver. If you do that, I’m sure that I can challenge for the title next year, because that’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m carrying on. “Michael will also know he needs the players to be doing well in the Champions League and compete on other trophy fronts as well. He will want to go full out and stay as long as he can in all competitions and then possibly win them. That’s probably his attitude, and it’s the right one as well.” A Manager in the Making When asked if Meulensteen saw “management material” in Carrick as a player, the Dutchman is adamant he “always felt” it was a path the 44-year-old would take. “Well, when you work with players, and obviously I work with Michael, sometimes you think to yourself, what do you think he’s going to do after football? You know, will he stay in the game, or does he do something different, or does he go into coaching, or go into the media or punditry? “Michael was, I’ve always felt, that he could end up staying in football in whatever capacity, because he was always a keen observer of what we did in training. “You know, I’m sure of this, though you would possibly have to ask him himself, that he would always have seen himself as having the skills to become a manager. He’s that type of player – and very social with it as well. “He was also the type of player that would make notes at training, and you could foresee them destined for big things after retirement.” Final Thoughts The reaction to Carrick’s appointment has been marred by the expected parallels with the decision to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the job full-time after a successful caretaker spell. But the Englishman is not the Norwegian, nor has Manchester United’s form imploded towards the end of the season in the way it did under Solskjaer. The fact that one of Carrick’s former mentors in Meulensteen predicted he would become a manager long before his playing career had come to an end only strengthens his case as an exciting young coach with his best years ahead of him. Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.