Strugglers can't take the Michael with interim

FOR an indication of Michael Carrick’s character and his ability to make big decisions you only need to go back to just his second game while holding the fort at Manchester United.

- BY TYRONE MARSHALL

Carrick’s first game after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed was a 2-0 Champions League win in Villarreal, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho getting the goals. But when he took United to Stamford Bridge a few days later, there was a bombshell when he dropped Ronaldo.

It was a brave and ruthless decision from someone still finding their way in management, and it marked Carrick out as someone who had the belief to follow his convictions. Ronaldo had been benched for one other game that season at home against Everton.