Manchester United: Michael Carrick is not interested in a personal duel with Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner

Michael Carrick says the chance to harm a man is thought to be a rival Manchester UnitedThe next coach of our national team will not be a motivating factor in Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner is second favorite for the permanent role with most bookmakers, despite a turbulent campaign in which he publicly criticized his club’s board, lost in the FA Cup to Macclesfield and fell out with fans amid a faltering Premier League campaign.

Manchester United interim boss Carrick is now the favorite, thanks to five wins and a draw in his six matches.

It is a record high that means, after Aston Villa’s shock defeat by Wolves on Friday, that United will finish third in the table for the first time since the end of the 2022-23 season if they beat Palace at Old Trafford.

This is enough to motivate Carrick, who says there is no personal element to his preparations at all.

“It’s something that doesn’t occur to me until you mention it,” he said.

“It doesn’t make any difference at all.

“I have full respect for Crystal Palace and Oliver, in terms of the team and the role they play. But it’s the next game for us.”

Palace was ahead of United in the table when the two teams met on November 30.

One of the influential figures in United’s 2-1 win that day, Matthijs de Ligt, has not played since due to a back injury. His fellow centre-back Lisandro Martinez missed the win over Everton on Monday due to a calf injury, which Carrick considers a “small problem” that will not keep the Argentine out of the field for “a very long time.”

Fifth-placed Chelsea is scheduled to play Arsenal and Aston Villa in the next two matches, and this appears to be an opportunity for United to strengthen its position in the Champions League places.

It is a goal that many did not expect when Ruben Amorim was sacked last January.

“We are in a good position,” Carrick said. “We feel like we’re moving forward, but it’s just about what’s in front of us, and trying to get to where we want to be, which is a little higher up in the league.

“That’s literally all I’m worried about right now.”