Michael Carrick delivers end of season message to fans, did he clarify his future at Manchester United?

It was the perfect send off to the faithful at Old Trafford. No. There was no title lifted or confetti raining down at the Theater of Dreams, but when you consider how bad the season was shaping up a five months ago, this could be seen as the perfect ending. Interim manager Michael Carrick took the mic and said his farewell to the fans, the question around Manchester now is, will he be back?

United close out home slate with win

The Red Devils are have secured a top three finish and a place in the Champions Leaugue next year. Neither of those things seemed a sure shot at the turn of the calendar year, but Michael Carrick came in and replaced Ruben Amorim and turned things around immediately. There has been momentum gaining over the last few weeks that would suggest that Carrick is going to be named the full time manager, but there has yet to be any announcement from the board on a decision over the former United midfielder’s future.

In the post match celebrations following United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, Carrick took the microphone from the PA announcer at Old Trafford looking to address the fans before wishing them a great summer. “A massive thank you for the season. It’s unbelievable to see this place so full,” Carrick told the fans.

Carrick came in to a club that was looking like it was on track for another season that would keep them out of the Champions League, and a dressing room that had no chemistry. Since taking over, he led the team to 11 wins, 3 draws and just two losses.

Decision coming soon?

Carrick seemed light hearted after the match, and even joked with the fans that he could stay at the Theater of Dreams all night and listen to them chant. He went on to tell the fans, “Thank you, I could listen to that (chants from the fans) all night, but we have to stop. What a way to end the season. I thought we played ever so well today. It’s unbelievable to see this place like this, it’s such a special place.”

Carrick has been quite clear about his intentions to stay at the club. He spent over a decade with Manchester United, and has shown that he knows what it takes to be the manager on the touchline of Old Trafford. Carrick spent eight years under Sir Alex Ferguson and is hoping to get a chance to bring this club back to where they used to be under his former boss. He ended his speech with a final farewell and a message that tells you he is looking forward to the future. “We’ve had some big, big moments, big goals and big results in this place over the last few months... Hopefully there’ll be a few more of them.” That last little bit may have just been a hint to the fans, or to the board that he is ready to sign a new deal immediately.

Since Fergy left Manchester, there has been a never ending carousel of coaches that have come and gone since the spring of 2013. Carrick is the eighth manager that has been named, not counting care taker, which Carrick played back in 2021. Many around Manchester will be hoping that Carrick not only is named manager, but brings some stability to the sideline.

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