Pogba backs Carrick as permanent United boss: 'It's going to be good'

Paul Pogba has thrown his support behind Michael Carrick’s appointment as Manchester United’s permanent head coach, saying the former midfielder has the experience and player relationships to succeed at Old Trafford.

Carrick returned to United in January on a temporary basis after Ruben Amorim was sacked following his press conference at Leeds. The new manager’s impact was immediate: United won six of his first seven matches in charge and secured Champions League football with a 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford. The club confirmed Carrick’s permanent appointment ahead of the final day of the season, a win at Brighton.

“I think he’s doing a great job and he did it also at the time when he was the assistant of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,” Pogba said. “He’s a great guy, he has experience, he was a great player, and he has a very good connection with the players — you could see it when he took the team. I think it’s going to be good for United. I wish them the best, obviously, for him and all the staff and the players.”

Pogba played alongside Carrick during his second spell at United and was at the club when Carrick first moved into coaching. The two share a bond that gives Pogba’s endorsement added weight, even if his own career has taken a turbulent path since leaving Old Trafford.

Pogba departed United on a free transfer in 2022 and rejoined Juventus, but in 2023 he tested positive for DHEA, a substance that raises testosterone levels. He denied any intent to dope, but was initially handed a four-year ban in February 2024. On appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, that was reduced to 18 months after the panel accepted there was no deliberate wrongdoing, making him eligible to play again from March 2025.

Since leaving Juventus at the start of 2025, Pogba has signed for AS Monaco, though injuries restricted him to just six appearances in Ligue 1 this season. At 32, his playing future remains uncertain — but his verdict on Carrick’s appointment at United was unambiguous.