'At this point, you can't not give Carrick the job'

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On this week's episode on BBC Radio Manchester's Devils' Advocate podcast, Gaz Drinkwater, Michael Clarke and Jay Motty discussed whether Michael Carrick should be given the Manchester United manager's job on a full-time basis.

United have won eight of their 12 games since Carrick took control of the team in January.

Drinkwater said: "At this point, you can't not give him the job with that sort of ratio and getting United into the Champions League as well.

"If it does tail off a little bit - because we have seen some dodgy performances - that momentum does seem to slow, in terms of him being guaranteed to get the job.

"What I will say - if it somewhat continues but he beats Liverpool at Old Trafford [on 3 May], I just think you can't not give him it."

Clarke argued: "Isn't that a big problem though, that we still think Manchester United's owners are going to do this on a PR exercise basis, rather than what they think is a long-term good idea?

"If he delivers Champions League football, that is an objective met. Then you should be saying: 'Do you think he's going to be good enough in the Champions League?' In my opinion, they need to be looking beyond these games."

Motty said he thought Carrick's relationship with the United hierarchy would be a key factor in whether he gets the job full-time and added: "If it was up to me, I'd give Carrick the job.

"I think he's done a great job since he has come in. The fans love him for what he did as a player and as two stints as the caretaker."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds