Former Man Utd No.2 suggests only reason Michael Carrick would not get the full-time job

Michael Carrick has been warned he faces an even bigger challenge next season if he lands the Manchester United job full-time.

Carrick has put himself in pole position to be named United head coach on a permanent basis after taking over until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim's sacking in January.

The former United midfielder has taken the Red Devils back into the Champions League – after an absence of two years - with 10 wins and two draws from his 14 games in charge.

Carrick is now favourite to be named the club's permanent boss, but former United coach Rene Meulensteen – who worked with Carrick as a player – has sounded a warning for the 44-year-old.

Meulensteen, who worked as United's first-team coach for five years under Sir Alex Ferguson, says Carrick will have to prove himself all over again next season if he gets the job full-time.

“Michael was asked to step in and, to be fairly honest, he couldn't have done any more, with regards to what they expected of him," Meulensteen told SPORTbible.

“I think that was obviously getting Champions League football, as well I think a better brand of football, and I think he's achieved both.

“Like I said right from the beginning, when Ruben Amorim left, I didn't think it took a lot to fix it. It was basically common sense. You change the system, go to a back four, two holding midfielders, and then you've got your front players, and making sure players understand in terms of his points.

“The only thing is you have to have a realistic view of what Michael has actually walked into or, rather, what he's had to deal with over the last three or four months.

"No cup games, no midweek games, and no Champions League, and these are throwing completely different challenges at you when you go into a full season.”

Everything 'adds up' for Carrick

Meulensteen knows Carrick very well as an individual, having coached the 44-year-old at Old Trafford for five years as the first-team coach at Manchester United.

In that time that the pair worked together, they won three Premier League titles, a Champions League and a Club World Cup before Meulensteen left Old Trafford following the appointment of David Moyes in June 2013.

The current Iraq assistant coach believes Carrick has all the attributes to succeed at United as a manager, and this is why he should be given the full-time managerial role.

Meulensteen said: “I would be confident in terms of giving Michael the job, because obviously I worked with him as a player and I know how he is as a person. He carries himself well, he's calm, he's a good communicator, and I think he's exactly the same towards the players, and I think the players will have a lot of respect for him for what he achieved at United as a player.

“So that all adds up, because everything starts – or breaks down – if a manager can't create the right culture. So, for me, I would have conversations with Michael – great, so far, so good.

“But what are you going to do and what do we need to do to make sure United are going to challenge for the title next season or the season after? I hear people saying next year is too early, and I'm thinking to myself, 'Why would that be?'.

“Look at the recent form that United have had. Let's assume Michael would have come in three or four months earlier. He probably would have challenged [for the title] now. Would I personally have confidence in him? In what I've seen in him and how he is, I would give him that opportunity.”

Do Man Utd need a serial winner?

Despite United's form under Carrick, the club still hasn't committed to making a decision on a full-time boss. The expectation remains that Carrick will be given the role, but Meulensteen can understand why perhaps the club's hierarchy are keeping their options open.

“Would United need a top, top manager, somebody like, for example, Luis Enrique if he became available or Carlo Ancelotti if he says 'I'll have a crack at it'?" Meulensteen said, speaking on behalf of Best Betting Bonuses.

“You're talking about people who are serial winners that know what it's like to win big leagues and Champions Leagues. So that's the only thing that can be held against Michael at the moment, but you have to say, so far, all the signs have been good.

“The key is when things have sort of settled down, you've gone through your honeymoon period, and then the players start to see what the routines are, what the patterns are in training, and whether players are going to believe and say 'Yes, this man knows what he's doing'.

“There's always a danger, and the danger is not signing Michael, bringing another manager in, and again it's not working. Then you have to go back to someone like Michael to step in again. In my opinion, they have to weigh up all of the options of managers who are available, who could handle a club the size of United, because that's the biggest thing.

“But if you have somebody who knows the club, knows what it's like to be in a successful environment, because he's been in it, then Michael is a really good candidate.”