Bruno Fernandes' prediction for Michael Carrick after fuming at Man Utd decision

Michael Carrick is set to be named as the interim boss of Manchester United and the ex-player previously impressed a number of key figures, Bruno Fernandes among them

Bruno Fernandes was confident that Michael Carrick would be a "really good manager" if he got the opportunity, despite being angry he was left out of his first Manchester United XI.

The former player turned assistant at Old Trafford has been out of work since being axed by Middlesbrough, but is tipped to take charge at Manchester until the end of the season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

Several of the United stars worked under Carrick when he was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's assistant, and then saw him as the No 1 when he took caretaker charge of the team for three games - winning two and drawing one.

But in his first game, an away tie with Villarreal, he left Fernandes on the bench, instead starting Donny van de Beek. The Portuguese talisman admitted that annoyed him, something he let Carrick know as well: "I’ve said to him I was really mad to be off on his first game and I tell him now at the end of this game," he said at the time.

Despite that, Fernandes was in no doubt that Carrick would go on to become a great manager: "Honestly for me Michael can be a really good manager in the future if he gets that chance. He knows how to speak, he knows a lot of football. He was one of the great players that not a lot of people talk about. For what I have seen he can be a top coach."

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Carrick's task would be to achieve a top-four finish and guarantee Champions League football next season for United, who have seen their trophy hopes ended after Brighton knocked them out of the FA Cup on Sunday.

The 44-year-old already has the backing of several senior players, who went to the hierarchy to make it clear that they wanted Carrick - not Solskjaer - to return and lead them for the remainder of the season. Solskjaer had been favourite to replace Amorim, but was ruled out when some players went to club bosses and told them they didn't want him to come back, making it known they had little confidence in him.

It was also understood that Carrick's personality and coaching qualities impressed senior United's players. Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Fernandes, Amad and Tom Heaton are the only players left at the club who worked under Carrick when he had his brief spell in charge.

United want to make an announcement imminently and the interim boss will be handed a baptism of fire. This weekend United host Manchester City before heading to Arsenal. Taking on the top two in the league will provide a clear sense of where the team are following a troubled period.

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