Manchester United has recorded two draws and one defeat in their last three league matches and was eliminated from the League Cup after Brighton staged a comeback. Regarding this, The Athletic published an article highlighting that Carrick's problems as Manchester United manager are strikingly similar to those Solskjær faced during his tenure: a lack of distinctive style and the absence of a Plan B.

Since Carrick's appointment as interim manager of Manchester United in January, comparisons with his predecessor have been inevitable.

Nearly seven years ago, Solskjær also took over the team as interim manager. At that time, Manchester United turned to a veteran of the Ferguson era to take the helm, aiming to lift the team's morale and stabilize the situation.

Like Solskjær, Carrick's interim appointment was made permanent after several months during which he successfully changed the team's dynamic and dispelled the dark atmosphere surrounding the club. Now, similar to Solskjær's situation at the start of the 2021-2022 season, the team's performance has deteriorated and external criticism has intensified, with observers accusing the club of retaining a manager incapable of taking the team further, based solely on sentiment.

But is it fair to view Carrick as "Solskjær 2.0"? Do the similarities in their managerial careers suggest that their tenures at Manchester United will end the same way?

The similarities between the two are striking. Both have expressed a desire for the team to play quick counterattacking football and have drawn on their experiences in the great Manchester United teams in which they played. Their illustrious playing careers, combined with their understanding of the club's traditions, helped lift morale during difficult times, both among supporters and within the dressing room.

Carrick said in an interview with the club's media in January: "I hope we can play attractive football, be proactive, unlock creativity, and ignite passion on the pitch. I want to feel that emotion from the sideline."

This echoes what Solskjær said in a 2020 interview with The Athletic about his team-building philosophy: "Of course, we look back at Manchester United's entire history. We are an attacking team that needs to rely on quick players to play fast counterattacks."

Another common trait is that neither manager was willing to publicly criticize players, and both received praise for the progress their players made under their leadership. Carrick's development of Mainoo is an example; under Solskjær's direction, Pogba also experienced a significant resurgence. Many of these qualities earned them the adoration of fans, but Carrick's challenge is that he now receives not only the praise Solskjær once enjoyed, but also the same criticisms.

The main criticism is that this Manchester United team lacks a distinctive "style identity" and relies too heavily on counterattacking play. This view is not unfounded. Data shows that after Solskjær replaced Mourinho in December 2018, Manchester United's frequency of fast counterattacks increased steadily; and after Carrick took over midway through last season, this metric rose again.

Mbemó's goal in Carrick's first match against Manchester City was the perfect example of this counterattacking style. But when the two teams met again a few weeks ago, the situation was completely different: the opponent had ten men and defended deep, while Manchester United struggled to take the initiative in attack. This precisely exposed the weakness of this tactical system: the lack of a reliable Plan B, which was also a major problem for Solskjær back then.

However, the view that the former Norwegian player completely lacked tactical flexibility and acumen is too one-sided. Solskjær had several matches where his specific tactics were extremely effective, such as the 6-2 victory against Leeds United in December 2020, where his strategy successfully dismantled Bielsa's man-marking system. He also employed a three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs to enhance the team's transition threat, a tactic that worked well against opponents like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

But once opponents compressed space and cut off Manchester United's counterattacking routes, Solskjær found it difficult to break through. The 2020-2021 Europa League final was a typical example: Manchester United controlled most of the possession but could not overcome Villarreal's organized defense, and the match ended 1-1, with Manchester United ultimately losing on penalties. The entire match was a struggle.

After several months of observation, Carrick's Manchester United is incisive in counterattack, but once opponents compress space, the team's attack stalls. Opponents have also identified this pattern, and the old problems Solskjær faced are reappearing for Carrick. Last week in the League Cup, Brighton deployed a five-at-the-back formation at Old Trafford and ultimately won the match, a classic example.

The similarities don't end there. Manchester United's high press has been ineffective this season, exposing defensive vulnerabilities—a problem Solskjær also encountered. Of course, the situations are not completely identical: during Solskjær's era, the central issue was that striker Cristiano Ronaldo didn't fit the high-press system; under Carrick, the problems are more evident in the team's defensive shape without the ball, with defensive frailties easily exposed on the flanks.

It's worth noting that not just these two struggled to implement an effective pressing system at Manchester United: Ten Hag also faced defensive vulnerabilities when attempting to implement an intense pressing strategy.

Carrick was a key member of Solskjær's coaching staff, so their coaching philosophies overlap considerably, and it is unsurprising that the former English midfielder faces the same dilemmas as his former boss. However, as some suggest, this does not mean Carrick is destined to fail.

Is promoting counterattacking football inherently wrong? Counterattack cannot be the team's only weapon, but the argument that "only possession-based football is the right way" is equally debatable.

As shown in the table above, the average possession of Premier League champions has decreased significantly in the last two seasons. Compared to Solskjær's era at Manchester United, fast counterattacks are now even more frequent in the Premier League. Counterattacking football still has a place in top leagues and is even more valued than during Solskjær's time. Carrick's players have already demonstrated their ability to create lethal threats through counterattacks.

Incorporating counterattacks into the tactical system is not inherently problematic; the real hidden danger is the lack of alternative solutions when opponents cut off the counterattacking channels. Solskjær struggled to find ways to break through, but this doesn't mean Carrick will repeat the same mistakes.

Carrick has several tools at his disposal that could help address the problem of opponents' compact defenses. Mainoo's ability to deliver penetrating passes is constantly improving; summer signing Baleba returns to midfield after recovering from injury, which can relieve pressure on Mainoo and allow him to take on more creative and organizational tasks. The flexibility shown by Carrick's forwards indicates that the team has players capable of positional rotation and intricate passing combinations, enough to create space against compact defenses.

Manchester United's performance at the beginning of this season has been heavily criticized, and these criticisms are justified; comparing Carrick's current difficulties with Solskjær's past experiences is also valid. However, it would be premature to conclude that the current manager has no opportunity to find solutions.

So far, Carrick's path as a manager at Manchester United has followed, perhaps inevitably, that of his former teammate and boss. He deserves the opportunity to prove he possesses sufficient tactical wisdom to overcome the difficulties that led to Solskjær's downfall.

Traducido por IA.

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