OLE GUNNAR Solskjaer is offering Michael Carrick advice on the Manchester United head coach’s job, despite losing out to his ex-teammate.
United spoke to both former caretakers earlier this month before settling on Carrick, who masterminded a superb 2-0 victory over Manchester City in his first game back last week.
Carrick was a teammate of Solskjaer’s in his first season at United in 2006-07 and he was on the Norwegian’s coaching staff for his three years in charge at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer spoke to Carrick after he was appointed as Ruben Amorim’s replacement last week and expressed his delight at the derby result.
Carrick said: “Yeah, I’ve spoken to him. I’m close (to Solskjaer).
“We’ve been through a lot together, so he’s been fully supportive, as you’d expect.
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“He’s some man and I respect him an awful lot. He wished me all the best and he was happy that we got the right result.
“I think friendships, you have conversations. I’ve got a lot of friends in places that I can kind of pick on if I need to be.
“I’m not one that bothers a lot of people, to be honest. But he’s certainly there if ever I need him.”
Although Carrick is head coach until only the end of the season, he will advise on United’s major midfield signing in the summer.
United confirmed in midweek that Casemiro will be released when his contract expires in the summer.
The club have prioritised a No.6 addition and could add another midfielder to bolster the weakest area in their squad.
United are interested in England trio Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, while they enquired about Brighton enforcer Carlos Baleba last year.
Carrick was an accomplished midfielder during his 12 years at United and travelled to two World Cups with England in 2006 and 2010.
When asked if he would discuss midfield targets with the United board, Carrick replied: “I’m certainly in this position to do that.
“Making decisions for the club moving forward, whatever that may be, I’m fully committed to that.
“Naturally, as a midfielder, there’s a big tendency towards that anyway.
“But taking that away from it and now being where I am in the position I am, certainly would be part of those conversations moving forward.
“Because it’s important that we get the next steps right in terms of moving forward as a team and there’s a squad and putting the right things in place.
“I’ll be part of that in the right way.”
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