So far, Ineos’ choice to go with Michael Carrick over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has looked like a smart one, but things could have turned out differently if not for the way Solskjaer rubbed the Man Utd board the wrong way.
Carrick’s unbeaten start has quickly put any doubts to rest, and fans seem happy with how things are going. It wasn’t long ago that Solskjaer was still very much in the running though.
In fact, plenty of fans were even more interested in Solskjaer’s story than in Carrick’s return as interim boss.
Solskjaer might have had a better shot at landing the job if he hadn’t annoyed Ineos during his battle with Carrick for the role.
Why Ineos were turned off by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ineos narrowed their search for a short-term manager down to three names: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Michael Carrick, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Van Nistelrooy had already been in charge for a handful of matches following Erik ten Hag’s departure, so the final decision was really between Carrick and Solskjaer.
Chris Wheeler recently explained on The United Stand that public backing for Solskjaer may have actually worked against him during the process.
Ineos reportedly felt that Solskjaer’s camp was actively pushing for his appointment, which created unwanted pressure and didn’t go over well with the board.
Meanwhile, Carrick took a quieter approach. He laid out his plans directly to Ineos and let them make their decision without any external noise or influence.
Wheeler noted: “I don’t think the club were pleased with what was being put into the public domain from Solskjaer’s camp.”
“I think the club were very impressed with the way Michael Carrick conducted himself. He went about things quietly and privately, spoke to them directly, and put forward his case in a professional manner, which they valued.
Michael Carrick has brought stability to Man Utd
And Ineos’ call looks to have been spot on. While no one can question Solskjaer’s passion for the club, the team may have been in greater need of Carrick’s steady professionalism than another sentimental return.
Ruben Amorim’s exit had already raised tensions, and following that with Solskjaer’s emotional comeback could have piled even more pressure on the situation.
Carrick has managed to dial down all that noise. The results speak for themselves, but it’s also about how he carries himself and handles the environment.
He hasn’t played up his return, keeps his players focused on what’s next, and brushes off any talk about staying longer than planned.
Carrick is exactly what United needs right now – a steady presence who can take some of the emotion out of the room and help keep things balanced.
The way Solskjaer pushed for the role may have actually worked in Carrick’s favour in the end, with Ineos opting for a more composed approach at a crucial time for Manchester United.
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