Michael Carrick has shared his thoughts ahead of tomorrow's Premier League clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, offering insight into his role as interim manager and the ongoing search for a permanent boss.

When asked about the recruitment process for the permanent manager position, Carrick kept his focus squarely on the present. "It's a process. I think it's pretty obvious it's going to be a process, and that was from the outset in terms of finding someone to fill the position ultimately in the end," he said.

The conversation turned to Carrick's impressive run as interim manager, with a reporter noting that strong interim performances have sometimes led to permanent appointments in the past. Carrick acknowledged history but remained grounded. "A lot's happened before in all sorts of different ways—whether it's interim getting the job, not getting the job, whether it's having success or not success. So I think past's the past, really. I've learned from my own experiences, but there's mixed throughout history in football."

He emphasized that comparing past situations doesn't help gauge what's needed now. "I think it doesn't necessarily give you a good gauge of what's going on now and what needs to happen next. And that's not me personally, I just think that's the situation where it's at right now."

Perhaps most telling was Carrick's response to whether it's difficult seeing the job discussed with other candidates publicly. "No, genuinely no. Whether it's discussed or not discussed, it hasn't bothered me, hasn't changed literally how I go about it. Confident in the work that we're doing and working with the players and leading the club. So it literally hasn't had any effect on me at all."

Carrick also reflected on a touching moment from Sunday's victory, when he shared a hug with Amad after a hard-fought win that kept Champions League hopes alive. Despite the result, Amad was still frustrated after being substituted at halftime—a reminder of the passion and drive that defines this squad as they prepare for another crucial test on the road.