Zlatan Ibrahimovic hails 'incredible' manager linked with Manchester United job

 Michael Carricks second stint as Manchester United head coach has started well, but Ineos still plan to wait until the summer before naming a permanent manager.

When the Briton stepped in as Manchester United head coach for the second time, he knew it would not be an easy run of fixtures, but he has handled it better than most could have hoped.

Following the Manchester derby win, Arsenal were next on the schedule. The Red Devils came through again with a 3-2 victory, giving them six points from two matches against title-chasing teams.

Carrick is not getting ahead of himself. He knows there is still a long way to go if he wants the role full-time. But these early results have certainly put him in the frame against some world-class names, such as Carlo Ancelotti.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic praises Carlo Ancelotti as manager is tied to Manchester United

Carrick has done an outstanding job, and whether he lands the position permanently or not, United fans will remember him fondly, especially with Champions League qualification looking increasingly likely.

If the Briton does not get the permanent role, it is difficult to argue against bringing in a manager with the experience of Ancelotti.

Ancelotti is widely respected in the football world and has been mentioned as someone Ineos might be considering for the summer.

Speaking on Slaven Bilic’s Arena Sport podcast, Zlatan Ibrahimovic praised him as a head coach.

“Ancelotti is a manager. Old school, but he’s good,” the Swede said.

“Like a father, a friend, everything. No one had a problem with him. If you didn’t play, you still didn’t have a problem.

“Everyone was satisfied because there were no problems. He had that feeling of wanting to be good with everyone. I asked him: ‘How do you do it?’

“We had this situation on the right wing. Two players played one match. Then the next match, half and half. ‘How do you control that?’ I asked. ‘It’s easy, Ibra,’ he said. “So what do you tell them?”

“’To one player I say he’s the best in the team, then I go to the other and say the same thing.’

“At one training session I touch him like this (poked him in the shoulder). He looks at me and says, ‘Who told you, you can touch me like that?’ I was shocked. I say: ‘Carlo?’ He says: ‘Relax. I’m joking.’

I tell him: ‘Carlo, don’t Scare me.’

“He shocked me, because that’s not him. That’s how good he was. Incredible.”

Michael Carrick’s results put pressure on Ineos’ summer plans

Carrick has made a strong case to stay in charge beyond the summer, even if the club’s original plan was to look for a big-name manager like Ancelotti or Thomas Tuchel.

There has also been talk of Carrick having the right backroom team around him, with Steve Holland playing a key role in providing structure and experience. That is one thing that sets this situation apart from the one Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found himself in.

Keeping Solskjaer was not a bad call either. In terms of results and performances, he delivered more than most managers since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.

Carrick still needs to show consistency over a longer stretch before any decisions are made, but his start has certainly put him in contention.

With recent finishes of 8th and 15th, United are not in a position to overlook a coach who is clearly getting more out of this squad.

Ineos have time until May to make their call. Based on what we have seen so far, though, Carrick is building quite the case.