Jose Mourinho spoke about Michael Carrick ahead of leading Manchester United in the Red Derby against Liverpool, sharing his opinion on whether Carrick is fit for a permanent managerial role.
On 1 May 2026, Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese head coach of Benfica in Portugal's Primeira Liga, spoke about English coach Michael Carrick ahead of Manchester United's match against Liverpool in the Red Derby, expressing his views on whether Carrick is suitable for the permanent position.
Jose Mourinho said of Michael Carrick, "At Manchester United, the problem is not always the players or the results. Sometimes it lies in the decisions made. Often the club looks for answers externally, swayed by big names, but football isn't about fame; it's about understanding."
"In my view, Michael Carrick understands this club. He doesn’t need time to learn what Manchester United is about because he already knows. He has been in the dressing room before, won all the major trophies, and understands what the fans expect when they walk into Old Trafford. You can appoint coaches with excellent resumes, but if they don’t grasp the true spirit of the club, they will always face problems."
"I see him becoming the first English manager to lead the team to a Premier League title. If Manchester United don’t appoint him permanently, he will go elsewhere, win trophies with another club, and one day, the team might regret letting him go."