Manchester United

Manchester United fans outside Old Trafford say that Michael Carrick being the club's next permanent head coach is the "best decision" and that he has "earned" the job full time.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Michael Carrick to become the club's permanent head coach.

The formal process of exchanging contracts is now under way, with an announcement expected inside the next 48 hours.

As things stand there is some doubt over whether the formalities can be completed before Sunday's match against Nottingham Forest, but there is a will to have it done in time for the club's final home game of the season.

Carrick will sign an initial two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months.

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This is a proper dead rubber, with Nottingham Forest safe now, and Manchester United guaranteed a Champions League spot.

That makes it harder to call but United boss Michael Carrick will still be desperate for a strong end of the season and retain the feel-good factor at Old Trafford.

Nottingham Forest won't want to let their season just peter out, either, but the pressure is off them now and, because of that, I am backing United here - this game is more important to them than it is to Forest.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence has joked that danger man Shea Lacey has finally grasped the concept of tracking back at the age of 19.

Lacey has emerged this season as one of the most promising players in United's academy.

The England Under-20 international was a key figure in the 4-3 victory over Manchester City in last week's Premier League 2 play-off semi-final and is one of United's most dangerous attacking options going into Saturday night's final against Brighton at Amex Stadium.

But Lawrence was just as pleased with the work Lacey did defending his own goal at City as with the goal and assist he contributed to the victory.

"When you isolate some of his one-v-one play - his dribbling, dropping the shoulder, twisting and turning - it's really exciting," said Lawrence.

"He's got magic in his feet and is what a Manchester United player should look like.

"I've never seen him run backwards so much [as he did against City]. That was a positive.

"I said to him afterwards it's good that finally, at 19 years of age, he's understood what tracking back actually is."

United are aiming to win PL2 in its new guise for the first time. They last won the old title, based solely on league performance, in 2015-16.

They finished second in the table behind Chelsea on goal difference, while Brighton ended the season in 12th spot.

Lawrence feels goalkeeper Will Murdock could be a key figure in the game.

"Will is quite a calming presence in terms of the way he can take crosses and being reliable when the ball's going into him," he said.

"When you're an outfield player and feel confident with the goalkeeper behind, that obviously really helps the team in terms of giving them a platform."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick has stuck rigidly to the same mantra all the way through his short stint in charge of Manchester United, so there was little chance of him changing his ways in his latest media engagement and outlining whether he will stay at the club.

However, we are getting to the point of no return in the sense there are only two games of the season remaining and only two days before United's final home match of the campaign against Nottingham Forest.

Confirmation Carrick will address supporters on the pitch after the game appears significant.

Clearly, he wants to thank the fans for their support, but it would be odd if there was no clarity on his position before he picks up the microphone.

United fans will be saying farewell to veteran midfielder Casemiro, who will be available. I am not expecting it to be a double goodbye.

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United's interim boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Carrick said his future "is going to be decided pretty soon". He added: "There are two games to go, there's not much else I can say. The situation is pretty clear for us all. Same as. It doesn't change what we are doing this week."

• Carrick explained: "We knew that it was going to be towards the end of the season. Nothing has changed, there is no big swing on that. That is what it is. Whatever is beyond that is pretty close around the corner anyway."

• Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will be available on Sunday, in his last home game as a United player.

• On the midfielder Carrick said: "He's been fantastic for us, for me personally, what he's given us. He is fully invested and fully supported us as staff in the performances he's given. He's had some ups and downs over the years. To finish so strongly and see that connection with the supporters is really good to see"

• Benjamin Sesko is not "100%" and will not be available for Sunday.

• On what it has meant to him being in charge, Carrick said: "I'm immensely proud. As a supporter and ex-player and caring about the club so much, to come back and help and move the club forward was important. To make a big step and get back in the Champions League is good. We're happy with the work we've done so far."

• Carrick has confirmed his intention to address the supporters following the game on Sunday. "I think that's important regardless of the situation [of his contract]. The supporters are a massive part of this club. We thank them - and I certainly thank them - for the season and the support, the last four months for me personally."

• On what he believes the team can achieve in the upcoming years: "You've always got to aim upwards. That's the beauty of football and competition, to achieve something and back it up, improve on things, that's always the challenge. For the players, for the squad, for the whole group, for the club, we want to keep moving in a positive way and in the right direction."

• He added: "The closer you get to the top the less room for progress, but progress is what needs to be aimed for."

• Finally, on assistant coach Steve Holland: "Steve has been fantastic. He's got an awful lot of experience, he's seen everything before. He's a very wise man, he says things that are important at the right time. Steve is in that role where he has the experience to lean on. There's absolutely no shame in that at all."

Hit play above to hear more from Carrick or listen on BBC Sounds here

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Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

There's something magical about those seconds before the FA Cup final kicks off. Trumpets and tin-foil trophies, players as tense as the travelling fans, gaffers pacing the dugout in full club suits. The anticipation of a new hero emerging.

Some goals, though, are written in FA Cup folklore, rolled out for every cup final montage - they're the belters, the moments of individual magic, the strikes that sealed shock wins.

I've chosen 10 that make an all-time list and here's a peek at one of them. You can access the full article below to see where I've ranked it.

Norman Whiteside - Man Utd v Everton 1985

The odds were stacked against Manchester United, down to 10 men heading into extra time against an Everton side who were chasing a treble and had already beaten them twice that season.

But in the 110th minute, Mark Hughes threaded a ball into Norman Whiteside's path with the outside of his boot.

The midfielder scrambled down the right, cut in towards the edge of the box on his left and, with a subtle little stepover, created enough room to wrap a curling effort around Toffees defender Pat van den Hauwe and beyond keeper Neville Southall into the far corner.

"Some people have had the audacity to ask if it was a cross!" he later told BBC Radio 5 Live.

See my 10 selections in full

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick faces the media this afternoon for the first time since it became known he was the preferred candidate of chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox to take over as head coach at Manchester United on a permanent basis.

Talks are thought to be happening around that situation, although it is not entirely clear when we are likely to get an announcement.

United always wanted to wait until the end of the season before making a decision, although there is a school of thought that an announcement ahead of the final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest would be better – certainly if he wasn't getting it, there would be a chance for fans to acknowledge the work he has done.

As things stand, he has been nominated for the Premier League's manager of the year prize after winning 10 out of his 15 games in charge of Manchester United.

I wouldn't expect Carrick to engage on the inevitable questions but it would be interesting to know if he intends to speak to the fans from the pitch after Sunday's game as is tradition.

Beth Tucker
Fan contributor

Is Michael Carrick experienced enough to handle Manchester United on a full-time basis?

Carrick came in when the clear objective was Champions League football in a season in which quite a few of the competitors for Champions League football have dropped off.

I think Ruben Amorim made it really easy for Carrick to come in and look like he's doing a fantastic job - and I'm not taking anything away from Carrick if he gets the job.

He put the best player in the Premier League in Bruno Fernandes in his best position - that number 10 role - and he got the best out of the players he's got. That does deserve some sort of reward.

But can he do it after big money has been spent this summer on some serious signings and the pressure mounts on you? You've also got multiple games per week, you've got Champions League football, you've got cup competitions. Has he got the experience to do it at that top, top level?

I think Carrick has [but] my top option would have been Andoni Iraola.

What he's done with Bournemouth is nothing short of sensational. He has a fantastic style of play. He's clearly got great management skills, because his squad gets ripped from him every season and top players get ripped from him after he's built them up and got the best out of them.

The way he makes different sets of players run for him tirelessly, press for him tirelessly and go again and again, on a minuscule budget, amazes me. Iraola is an absolute coup for anyone who manages to go and get him.

Manchester United have decided to not go down that road. The risk with him is it is a mammoth jump from Bournemouth to Manchester United.

Carrick, as a player and as manager, has proved he can handle that pressure. There's not that many top, elite candidates available and I think Carrick has benefited from that - and I wish him all the best if he gets the United job.

You cannot say it's not deserved from the results he's got. Hopefully Michael Carrick will be our Zinedine Zidane.

Find more from Beth Tucker at The United Stand, external

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Darren Fletcher feels the pain of a double cup final defeat will spur his Manchester United on to better things next season.

United lost the FA Youth Cup final 2-1 at Manchester City after conceding an agonising late goal at the Joie Stadium.

It followed up a penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League Under-18 Cup final last month and what turned out to be a second-place finish behind City in the Premier League North table.

Fletcher accepted his side did not perform to their best on Thursday night, with too many of their high-profile players off form.

But he feels they will benefit from the experience and believes it has been a productive first season in charge.

"I am really proud of them," he said. "I have loved every minute.

"No sour grapes tonight. We didn't deserve to lose against Crystal Palace but we came up short against City.

"The players are gutted. But when you lose it doesn't half drive you forward next season. It changes your summer.

"There is no celebrating. You are thinking about rectifying the feeling of defeat."

Four of his starting line-up, including star forward JJ Gabriel, will be available to Fletcher next season, along with 16-year-old Kai Rooney, who missed the final through injury.

It will be interesting to see whether Michael Carrick's son Jacey also pushes his way into Fletcher's plans.

• Listen to Fletcher talk of frustrations with The FA

Manchester United are monitoring Sporting Lisbon and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 26, who is also on Arsenal's radar. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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The FA Youth Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United is upon us - and BBC Sport will be bringing you every moment.

It will be the first time the two sides have met in the final since 1985-86, when Manchester City emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over two legs.

However, the FA Youth Cup reverted to a one-game final back in 2020 - so it will be all or nothing when the two teams go head to head shortly.

Kick-off is at 19:00 BST at the Joie Stadium in Manchester.

You can watch the action live on BBC iPlayer or tune in on the BBC Sport website and app. You can also follow live text commentary of the final here.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The progress of Darren Fletcher's side has not been smooth over this FA Youth Cup journey.

Narrow home victories over Peterborough, Derby County - in extra time - and Sunderland, plus a comfortable away win at Oxford United, earned a semi-final against Crystal Palace, when they also needed extra time to get through, thanks to a Chido Obi goal eight minutes from time.

Chido is one of United's key men. The Denmark youth international made eight first-team appearances last season but has only appeared on the bench once this term. Tall and quick, with an eye for goal, United have been developing other aspects of his game. He will operate at the head of the visitors' attack and try to pin Manchester City's defence back.

JJ Gabriel is one of the most talked about young players in England. The 15-year-old Londoner was crowned under-18 player of the year by the Premier League this week. He operates in the number 10 position and tries to get on the ball as much as possible. He has exceptional balance and close control, is quick and represents a major goal threat.

Jim Thwaites was on the first-team bench at Chelsea recently. A number 10 at younger levels, Thwaites has been used in deeper positions this season. He has a fabulous passing range, is quick and has plenty of stamina. Also, he can be lethal at free-kicks, as City found to their cost when United won the last league meeting between the sides in February.

Skipper Dan Armer is a key man in central defence, Junior Brown and Noah Ajayi are dangers out wide and goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes has had a solid season.

Asked if there was extra motivation, with the final being against City, midfielder Rafe McCormack said: "100%."

He added: "It's obviously a big occasion, but we need to focus on ourselves and what we can do.

"It would have been a bonus to play in the first-team stadium, but to us it doesn't matter. We're just focusing on trying to win the trophy."

Read the full preview here

The Youth Cup final kicks off at 19:00 BST on Thursday and will be broadcast live from 18:50 BST on BBC iPlayer here, plus the BBC Sport website and app.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's Youth Cup contingent are benefiting from tips from the first team squad.

United aim to beat Manchester City at the Joie Stadium on Thursday night to win the trophy for a record 12th time.

Before the game, coach Darren Fletcher has already spoken of the positive impact senior team boss Michael Carrick has made by watching so many matches.

Yet the influence from the senior set-up goes much deeper.

When members of Fletcher's squad are called up for first-team training, guidance is offered by senior players.

"I remember there was one session and I was in front of Diogo Dalot and he was just talking me through the whole thing, just making sure I'm pressing in the right way, getting up to the ball, keeping the ball, everything," said Yuel Helafu of his fellow full-back.

Midfielder Rafe McCormack has a similar tale.

"If we have anything to say or we're stuck on some things they're all really nice," he said.

"I remember speaking to Mason Mount about passing through lines. He was very helpful to me and gave me his feedback."

Travis Binnion, United's head youth coach, who was in charge of the under-18s the last time they won the Youth Cup and is now part of Carrick's coaching team, is also a key figure.

"Every time we go to the first team, he'll give us some tips before the session," said McCormack. "He's very helpful for all of us that go up to the first team."