Michael Carrick has made significant strides with Manchester United as their caretaker manager, but the question remains: how does his performance compare to that of Ruben Amorim? When Amorim departed in January, United found themselves in sixth place in the Premier League. Since taking over, Carrick has managed to propel the team to third position by the end of the season. However, whether he should be considered for the permanent managerial role is a subject of ongoing debate.
While Carrick has secured more points—26 compared to Amorim’s 18 during their respective tenures—some underlying statistics may raise eyebrows regarding performance consistency.
xG per game
The expected goals (xG) statistic has become a polarizing metric in football analytics, offering insight into the quality of chances generated by a team. Under Carrick’s guidance, United has averaged an xG of 1.37 per game. In contrast, Amorim’s final 12 league matches yielded a higher average of 1.70, highlighting a potential area of concern for Carrick’s tenure.
xG against per game
Defensively, the statistics suggest that United has been more vulnerable under Carrick. The average xG against per game stands at 1.30, compared to just 1.16 during Amorim’s last 12 matches. This disparity indicates that Carrick’s side might be conceding more high-quality scoring opportunities to their opponents.
Goals per game
When it comes to tangible outcomes—actual goals—Amorim’s squad posted more impressive figures. They scored 23 goals over his last 12 league games, with an average of 1.92 goals per match. In comparison, Carrick’s side netted 22 goals in the same number of games, averaging 1.83 goals per game, which suggests a decline in scoring efficiency.
Big chances created per game
Another critical aspect of offensive productivity is the creation of big chances. During Carrick’s spell, the team averaged 2.58 big chances per game. However, this falls short of the 2.75 big chances per game created during Amorim’s last 12 matches, indicating a decrease in the ability to craft high-probability scoring opportunities.
Average possession per game
While more possession doesn’t guarantee success, it often correlates with control in matches. Under Carrick, United has enjoyed an average of 50.58% possession in their 12 games. This is notably lower than the 55.00% average possession rate under Amorim, suggesting that Carrick’s side may struggle to dominate games as effectively.
Touches in opposition box per game
Where possession is utilized is equally important. Carrick’s team averaged 24.17 touches inside the opposition’s box per game, while Amorim’s last 12 matches saw United achieving 29.25 touches in that critical area. This drop-off further emphasizes Carrick’s challenges in maximizing offensive opportunities.
Carrick has garnered a degree of credit due to Manchester United’s resurgence, but it should be noted that factors such as Chelsea’s struggles may have also contributed to their rise in the standings. The club might need to reconsider the long-term viability of Carrick as their permanent manager. While he deserves recognition for his efforts—transitioning from an underrated player to a possibly underrated manager—there are questions to be answered regarding his suitability for the position.
