Man Utd caretaker boss Michael Carrick leaves club with immediate effect after Arsenal win

Michael Carrick has decided to leave Manchester United with immediate effect – meaning he will not be part of Ralf Rangnick’s coaching set-up. The Red Devils caretaker boss departs Old Trafford with his legendary status already secured and he can hold his head high after stabilising the side following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United bounced back from the 4-1 defeat at Watford with a 2-0 win at Villarreal in the Champions League courtesy of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.

Last Sunday, they battled hard in west London to earn a valuable point against league leaders Chelsea as Sancho netted his first Premier League goal.

Now Carrick has signed off in style with a 3-2 win over Arsenal that keeps United’s Premier League top-four hopes alive as Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo (2) netted for the hosts.

The former United midfielder confirmed to Amazon after the game that the players were unaware of his decision before he informed them in the dressing room after the game.

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The 40-year-old, who received scrutiny for not leaving with Solskjaer, admitted he was emotional when delivering the message to the squad, who have undoubtedly played for the badge in the last 10 days.

“It’s not been an easy decision to make, but I feel it’s the right one. I was meant to take some time off when I finished playing,” he told Gabriel Clarke. “I promised my family we’d have some time together and it hasn’t happened!

“I’ll be back around the place, it’s not like I’m disappearing. It’s just the right time, and what a way to finish. It’s 100 per cent my decision. We’ve worked so hard to try to bring some success here in recent years, and it’s difficult when you don’t quite get to those heights. But I’ll have great memories of working with great people.

“I told the players just now – it’s a little bit emotional in the changing room. I held it together, just about! It’s not been easy to keep quiet about it for the last few days but I had a job to do. I’m not the important one here, and I was desperate to win the game for the players and the fans. It was a big night for us.”

Carrick has now vowed to spend some time with his family, something that regrettably, he did not do at the end of his playing career.

Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra speculated that Carrick might have walked before he was pushed given that he is yet to speak to new boss Rangnick.

Carrick claimed there had been no contact between the two in his pre-match press conference, which would suggest he was unlikely to become part of his coaching set-up.

Technical director John Murtough told United’s website: “Michael leaves with the sincerest thanks and best wishes of everyone at Manchester United after 15 years of exceptional service to the club as a player and as a coach. While we are sad to see him go, we respect and understand Michael’s decision.

“He will always be known as one of the finest midfielders in the history of Manchester United, and, more recently, as an excellent coach who has worked tirelessly under two managers to help develop the strong squad which Ralf will now take charge of.

“We are grateful for the steady leadership Michael has shown through this period of managerial transition, and, while he is now stepping away from day-to-day involvement, he will always be welcome back as a legend of the club.”

United goalscorer Bruno Fernandes was pictured chatting into Carrick’s ear after the full-time whistle and the Portuguese international confessed he told Carrick he was unhappy that he was dropped for the trip to Villarreal.

“I’ve said to him, I was really mad to be off in the first game and I told him just now,” Fernandes said.

“But Michael can be a really good manager in the future. He knows how to speak, he knows about football and he was a great that not many people talk about. For me he can be a top coach.”

Carrick revealed he is yet to decide whether he will return to coaching or management.