Manchester United and Chelsea find themselves at contrasting crossroads as the 2025/26 Premier League season enters its final weeks.
At Old Trafford, Michael Carrick has engineered a remarkable turnaround, lifting the club from sixth in January to the brink of a third-place finish and an almost guaranteed return to the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea find themselves navigating yet another period of instability following the sacking of Liam Rosenior, with the club in danger of missing out on European football next season and facing difficult questions.
Alejandro Garnacho, who swapped Manchester for London last summer after falling out with previous Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, could already be on his way out of Chelsea.
Paul Parker, who played for both United and Chelsea in the 1990s, spoke exclusively to MyBettingSites.co.uk and gave a scathing assessment of the 21-year-old’s attitude and performance. Parker also backed Carrick as the next permanent Man Utd manager.
Garnacho became a horrible kid and Chelsea fans don’t like him
Reflecting on the Argentina international’s rapid fall from grace since leaving Old Trafford, Parker suggests the player’s ego has far outweighed his actual contribution on the pitch.
“Garnacho made up his mind quite early in his career about who he wanted to be as a player and as a person. He thought he was bigger and better than what he was. No player should ever think that, but especially at Manchester United. You can’t think you are too good for that club and he thought that.”
Garnacho’s move to Chelsea was seen as a chance for a fresh start, but Parker believes the winger has merely carried his baggage south.
“He decided he wanted to leave Manchester United and go to Chelsea, which was a really strange one, but he did it and his behaviour since he arrived has shown me that he never learned anything at Man United. He thought he could get away with keeping acting the same way at Chelsea, but Chelsea is never going to accept that.”
The former England international also took aim at the player’s stylistic choices, questioning why Garnacho has chosen to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo over his legendary compatriot Lionel Messi.
“He doesn’t have great pace and he can’t beat his man. He modelled himself totally on Ronaldo, which is absolutely incredible. Why would he even do that? Especially, when the best player ever is from his own country in Lionel Messi. Why does he want to be Ronaldo? I have a lot of respect for Ronaldo but it doesn’t make any sense.”
“He never wanted to be himself. He wanted to be Ronaldo and he became this horrible, not very nice kid. Chelsea fans, the vast majority of them just don’t like him. They don’t like him, and I might even be wrong there, because it might be all of them and not just the vast majority. Because that means that a minority might like him and I don’t think so.”
No one wants Garnacho
With the summer transfer window approaching, Parker remains unconvinced that any top-level suitor would be a suitable landing spot for the winger.
“He blew away what he had. He must be living with regrets and I don’t know if anyone in his family is brave enough to tell him that. I really don’t know what happens after Chelsea, because who would like to have a player like him?”
“I don’t know what will happen to him, but he has to change as a person. He needs a total person makeover and start from scratch, but then again, not even ability wise he has much to offer. There is not a lot of ability there.”
“The most important thing is to deliver on the football pitch and the problem is that he can’t do that. He adds nothing to Chelsea and is not offering anything to the club. He doesn’t have any strengths and I have said that since he came to Man United.”
Carrick would be my pick as Man Utd’s next permanent manager
While Chelsea search for a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, Manchester United faces a decision on their own dugout. Carrick’s interim tenure has been a resounding success in terms of league position, and Parker believes the club should look no further for their next full-time manager.
“Man United will 100% wait to make a decision on the new manager until the season is over. But I am pretty sure the club didn’t expect to get Champions League football next season, and now it is more or less secured, which is very impressive, and it tells me that Carrick has done a very good job since he came in.”
Despite a recent slight dip in performance levels, including a surprising home loss to Leeds, Parker insists the overall trajectory justifies a permanent contract.
“We also have to say that the Premier League has been very poor this season, which has made it easier for Manchester United. They can finish third in the Premier League, which is quite mad.”
“Being in this position is quite incredible and Carrick has done very well to get this club in this position, but the performances have dropped off recently. Does Carrick deserve the job? I think the answer is a clear yes, so I think they should hire him as a permanent manager.”
If not Carrick, then Andoni Iraola would be my choice
Should the hierarchy at Old Trafford decide to look elsewhere, several names have been linked with the role. Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso are the most high profile ones and Parker favours the current Bournemouth manager, if Carrick isn’t picked.
“If I were to pick another manager than Carrick, my pick would be Andoni Iraola. He is the one I like the most. He knows the Premier League and he knows how to structure a team. He has improved Bournemouth and their players. I would go for him if they don’t choose Carrick.”
However, Parker expressed reservations about other high-profile candidates like Unai Emery or Glasner, who is set to depart Crystal Palace.
“Other options could be Unai Emery or Oliver Glasner, but I don’t think they want to join Manchester United. They want a bigger say at a club than Man United can offer them. They are very strong characters and I don’t think Man United want that.”
Ultimately, for the former United defender, the choice remains simple.
“I just believe that Carrick would be the best option, but if that is not possible, I would pick Iraola. He is the only one who has the credentials to go and take over the club.”
