Michael Carrick has made significant improvements as Manchester United’s interim manager, transforming the team’s results and atmosphere. This has led to surprise discussions about the club potentially hiring Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez, as reported by Ben Jacobs on The United Stand.
Manchester United recently experienced poor management under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. Ten Hag was dismissed shortly after starting at Bayer Leverkusen, while Amorim’s shortcomings were highlighted by the marked improvement in performance with Carrick taking over.
As a former player with the club, Carrick has impressed many, and there are increasing calls for him to be appointed permanently. The prospect of bringing in Martinez may not sit well with supporters who have seen Carrick’s positive influence.
Although Martinez had a few decent seasons in the Premier League years ago, his coaching record has been less favorable since. He struggled with the Belgian national team and has not fared better with Portugal, often misplacing players and failing to maximize the team’s talent.
Given that it’s a World Cup year, it seems unlikely that Martinez would leave Portugal immediately. However, he may become a candidate for Manchester United after the tournament, which would be disappointing for those who believe Carrick is the better option.