Jaap Stam urged Manchester United co-owners INEOS to keep faith in head coach Michael Carrick as pressure grew before Sunday's away match against Leeds United. The game will be played at Elland Road.
Stam backs Carrick
Contrasting the modern game with Sir Alex Ferguson's reign while pointing to recent managerial appointments, Stam told FlashScore: "Back in the day, when Sir Alex was leading the troops, I think they still had a little bit more time to work with a team, to build a team, to eventually have success. Nowadays, it's very difficult for a manager to get that time to be successful over the long term."
Stam also said: "Like you mentioned, they've had previous managers with a lot of experience, like Mourinho, Moyes, Van Gaal, Ten Hag. They all had experience at a high level, and they weren't successful. So it's not a given that when you bring in a manager with a lot of experience, he's going to have the ideas or the answer to be successful."
Explaining why the 45-year-old deserves time to implement his long-term blueprint, Stam added: "I think Michael is still the right guy to do so. You need to have a guy who is close to the players. He knows the players, he knows the culture of the club, he's in a good understanding with the people upstairs on the board, and they give him confidence and time so he can work it out."
Stam added: "Of course, he needs to have a plan for how to do that, but they probably discussed that, and how to approach the transfer periods as well, when to bring certain players in, and then building from that. Then a manager needs to show that. It's always a guess if you bring in a certain manager whether he's going to do the job for you. But Michael proved last season that he can do it, and I'm sure within this season he's going to grow and have better results."
United's recent results
Manchester United have six points from six Premier League games and are 13th. They are on a five-match winless streak across all competitions and have won two of their first nine games in all competitions.
United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton and Hove Albion, and lost 2-0 at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League after beating Sabah 4-0.
What has been said about his position
According to TEAMtalk journalist Graeme Bailey, Carrick is not in immediate danger of losing his job.
According to Bailey, intermediaries working with Antonio Conte have contacted Manchester United to make clear he is ready to take charge with immediate effect.
In a Q&A for The Athletic, Laurie Whitwell said: "I don’t believe there is an appetite to change head coach — and there are strong arguments that a new man in the dugout is unlikely to spark significant improvement — but Carrick’s position is beginning to feel precarious."
Whitwell also said: "He needs a win or two, quickly. If he goes, attention will turn to the hierarchy for overseeing a third mid-season change in a row."
Whitwell added: "I can understand reservations but I feel Carrick has the steel for solving this situation."
He also said: "He found tactical plans that triggered huge uplift last term and he has been here as a player."
Whitwell added: "But he also needs to tap into the players psychologically, ensuring they are sharp to beat their opponents from the first minute."
Leeds before Sunday
Leeds United are seventh with nine points. They lost 2-1 to Arsenal.
Leeds are unbeaten across their previous five top-flight fixtures at Elland Road.