Ex-Man Utd star who wants Old Trafford return gives Michael Carrick sack verdict

· Mirror

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is under growing pressure after a miserable start to the season but one of his former teammates believes he should not be shown the door just yet

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Ex-Manchester United star Antonio Valencia has urged the Red Devils to stick with Michael Carrick despite their miserable start to the season. Carrick, who took the reins on a permanent basis in the summer, has won just one of his opening six league games this term.

That has left United sitting 13th in the Premier League, with their form markedly different to the run which convinced the Old Trafford hierarchy to extend Carrick's stay in the dugout.

Despite the pressure continuing to rise on Carrick, former United teammate Valencia believes he will eventually be a success. Speaking to AS about the current boss, Valencia said: “Incredible. When I had the chance to be with him, I saw him as a positive leader, a man who read the game well and controlled it.

> “Then, when training was over, he’d change into different clothes and go to his coaching course.

> “Even then, you could see what he wanted to be. He enjoyed all of this and has shown he has the ability to manage Manchester United. I truly hope he has a lot of success and that he does very well.”

Asked if he saw Carrick becoming a manager, Valencia added: “Yes, he’s always had a very calm, relaxed personality. When he wanted to communicate something, he always did so with great respect.

> “He was never like that type of player who, while still studying, already thinks he’s a coach. He was never like that.

> “He spoke to you with great respect and was very intelligent in everything he said and explained.”

Valencia, now 41, spent a decade at United having arrived from Wigan Athletic in 2009 and he went on to lift three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. Having retired in 2021, he previously claimed that he would be open to returning to the club.

Speaking in the summer, he said: "Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much.

> "My family was very happy there. I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. It is a club I love a lot. I think everything they are doing is going well. But if they called me, I would go running."

United are back in action in midweek as they take on Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the Champions League ahead of a Premier League showdown with Leeds United at Elland Road.

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