Michael Owen backs Michael Carrick to remain Manchester United manager amid reports that the Premier League club are considering appointing Antonio Conte as his replacement. The former United striker believes Carrick deserves more time despite the team’s difficult start to the season.
The former Manchester United striker believes Carrick deserves patience despite the club’s difficult start to the season, insisting that recent results do not tell the full story of the team’s performances.
Carrick, 45, is under increasing pressure after a disappointing run that has seen United struggle to find consistency. The club have already been eliminated from the League Cup and have recorded just one league victory, according to the report.
Manchester United have also struggled defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet against an English opponent this season.
Reports have suggested that concerns are growing within the club over the team’s performances, including questions about players’ commitment to basic defensive responsibilities such as pressing opponents and closing down spaces.
Michael Owen Says Carrick Deserves More Time at Manchester United
Owen, who won the 2001 Ballon d’Or, has defended Carrick and argued that the manager should not be judged solely on the team’s early-season results.
Speaking to Goal, Owen said the fixtures awaiting Manchester United would be particularly challenging, especially with several difficult away matches on the schedule.
“I was looking at the next set of fixtures for Manchester United and they’re bloody difficult. A lot of away games.”
He specifically highlighted the upcoming Premier League trip to Leeds United, noting the rivalry between the two clubs and the atmosphere Carrick’s players would encounter at Elland Road.
“The next away game in the Premier League is Leeds, and Leeds are playing really well. Obviously we all know about their rivalry. That’s going to be some atmosphere. They’ll smell blood. There’s an opportunity there to win at Elland Road.”
Despite acknowledging the pressure surrounding the Manchester United job, Owen maintained that Carrick had done enough to deserve a longer opportunity to establish himself.
“I’m a big Carrick fan. I thought he should have been given the job. I understand that there’s pressure surrounding the job. Absolutely. But how well he did last season, I think he absolutely should be given time.”
Owen’s comments come as speculation about Carrick’s future intensifies, with reports from Italy linking former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte with a possible move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United Linked With Antonio Conte
Reports from Italy have suggested that Manchester United are seriously considering replacing Carrick, with Conte emerging as a potential candidate.
Calciomercato reported that United were weighing up the possibility of dismissing Carrick, while TuttoMercatoWeb claimed that Conte was “reaching an agreement” with the club.
However, the reports do not establish that an appointment has been finalised, and Carrick remains Manchester United’s manager.
The speculation follows comments Conte reportedly made during the international break about wanting to manage a historic club experiencing difficulties.
The Italian manager said he wanted to take charge of a club with a significant history that was going through a challenging period, prompting speculation that he could be referring to Manchester United.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano also reported that Conte was ready to return to management, adding to the growing discussion about the Italian’s future.
Conte has considerable managerial experience, having previously coached clubs including Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli. His record of winning major domestic honours makes him an attractive option for clubs seeking an experienced manager.
Nevertheless, Manchester United have not confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Conte or decided to dismiss Carrick.
Owen Believes Manchester United Have Been Unlucky
As Michael Owen backs Michael Carrick,he also argued that Manchester United could have collected more points this season, claiming that controversial incidents and late goals had contributed to their disappointing results.
He cited their match against Everton and a disputed VAR decision during the Manchester derby as examples of situations in which United had been unfortunate.
“And if you look at it, they were massively unlucky against Everton. They scored with one of the goals of the season, the last kick of the game. They were robbed out of points by VAR in the Manchester derby. They’ve been really unlucky, in my opinion, to not have a few extra points.”
Although Owen acknowledged that Manchester United had not performed consistently well, he remained optimistic about the squad’s potential.
“The performance wasn’t great against Spurs, granted, but I do like the team. I think it’s a lot better team now than it has been in the last few years. And I think that they’ve got the potential to have a decent enough season.”
His assessment suggests that he believes the squad has improved sufficiently for Carrick to build a competitive team, provided he receives adequate time and support.
Owen also warned that pressure from outside the club could influence discussions about the manager’s position before the team has had a reasonable opportunity to recover.
“There’s people trying to put pressure, but I do think he deserves a fair bit more time for what he’s done so far.”
Atletico Madrid Test Awaits Manchester United
Before travelling to Leeds United next weekend, Manchester United are scheduled to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The match presents another difficult challenge for Carrick, with Diego Simeone’s side arriving in strong form after winning four consecutive LaLiga matches.
Atletico’s impressive run reportedly includes a victory over Real Madrid, with the team scoring 11 goals and conceding just two across those four games.
A strong performance against Atletico could help ease some of the pressure surrounding Carrick, although another disappointing result would likely intensify questions about his future.
The subsequent trip to Leeds is also expected to attract considerable attention because of the rivalry between the clubs and the difficult atmosphere awaiting United at Elland Road.
With the season still unfolding, Manchester United’s hierarchy must weigh the benefits of managerial stability against concerns about results, performances and the club’s long-term ambitions.
Carrick’s Future Remains Uncertain
The debate over whether Manchester United should sack Carrick reflects the tension between the demand for immediate results and the need to give a manager sufficient time to implement his ideas.
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Owen’s position is clear: despite the disappointing start, he believes Carrick has shown enough to warrant continued backing.
However, the reported interest in Conte indicates that speculation about alternative managerial options is growing, even though no completed agreement has been confirmed.
Manchester United’s upcoming fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Leeds could prove significant in shaping the debate surrounding Carrick’s position.
For now, Carrick remains in charge, while Owen has publicly made the case for patience rather than another managerial change at Old Trafford.