Matheus Cunha says Michael Carrick ‘deserves’ to stay on as Man Utd head coach

Matheus Cunha believes Michael Carrick deserves to stay as Manchester United head coach having brought some of Alex Ferguson’s magic back to Old Trafford.

The popular former midfielder was charged with steadying the ship and steering the Red Devils to Champions League qualification following Ruben Amorim’s acrimonious January exit.

It looked a big ask but Carrick has exceeded expectations, with Sunday’s helter-skelter 3-2 triumph against rivals Liverpool wrapping up a return to European football’s top table with three games to spare.

Ferguson was absent having been taken to hospital before the game as a precaution having felt unwell, but Cunha saw the managerial great’s impact during a spirited display overseen by one of his former players.

Asked if he would like Carrick to stay as head coach next season, Sunday’s opening goalscorer said: “Yeah, yeah, honestly, I think if we need to say (it).

“I don’t think it’s in my hands. But what he did, he’s full of confidence in the group and, look, I sat on the bench with him but how he teaches everyone is amazing.

“I think he has like the magic with like these Ferguson times, these kinds of things. Then he come and bring to us, teach us how it was.

“And, yeah, to be part of everything that he did is a pleasure, and then of course I think he deserves it.”

Carrick’s United links were key to the former Middlesbrough boss getting the job for the remainder of the campaign.

The club wanted a manager that knew what made the club tick to avoid any wrinkles in adaptation and allow director of football Jason Wilcox time to undergo a thorough search for Amorim’s long-term replacement.

Carrick has proven he could well be that man, with rejuvenated matchwinner Kobbie Mainoo saying players