Ryan Giggs has backed Michael Carrick to become Manchester United's next permanent manager and has urged him to hand a lifeline to one of the club's biggest flops of recent times, Rasmus Hojlund.
Carrick's impressive turnaround
United have secured qualification for next season's Champions League with three games to spare following a remarkable upturn in results under their former midfielder, who replaced Ruben Amorim back in January. Without adding to his squad in the transfer window, Carrick has turned United's fortunes around while playing a more recognisable brand of football in keeping with the club's ethos.
'I think a strong personality and just the quiet way he's gone about it,' Giggs said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. 'The way we played against Manchester City, that's the United way pass and move, pass and move. When you get the ball into the dribblers you can make things happen, that's when you can take risks.'
Giggs praises Carrick's style
'Man United has always been about no player being quicker than the ball, you saw that in little triangle in the City game and that was after just a few days of training. Let's see what he can do with a pre-season and getting the players he wants,' Giggs added.
Should he get the job on a full-time basis, Carrick will have to make a judgement on a number of players currently out on loan before entering the market for replacements. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are two of the most high-profile players enjoying temporary spells elsewhere, and Giggs feels both England internationals would benefit from leaving Old Trafford.
Hojlund deserves a second chance
In the case of Rasmus Hojlund, however, Giggs believes the Denmark international is deserving of a second chance and thinks the 23-year-old was given the rough end of the stick during the reigns of Erik ten Hag and Amorim.
'He's got big decisions with the likes of Marcus, Hojlund, Sancho all these players,' said Giggs. Asked if he would keep any of that triumvirate, he added: 'Maybe Hojlund, maybe. I thought he was unlucky; he was just the only centre forward at the club. Everyone expected him to come in and do great. I think Sesko gets more chances and scores more goals.'
Competition up front
'But you never know, if you've got two young, hungry centre forwards up front and say fight it out. You see at United that's always been a strength. I say training is harder than the games, if you've United centre halves at one end marking Sesko it's going to be competitive,' Giggs concluded.
