According to a report by Metro on Monday November 2, 2026, Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke has urged the club to do whatever it takes to appoint Unai Emery as their next manager, believing the Aston Villa boss could restore stability and credibility to Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick remains in charge despite Manchester United enduring nine consecutive matches without a victory. His position has become increasingly uncertain, with crucial fixtures against Roma in the Champions League and Emery’s Aston Villa in the Premier League approaching.

Failure to win either match could intensify pressure on Carrick and potentially lead to his departure before the players return from the international break.

Yorke, who represented Aston Villa between 1989 and 1998 before joining Manchester United, insists Emery should have been appointed before Ruben Amorim arrived in 2024. He maintains that the Spaniard remains the ideal candidate to rebuild the struggling Premier League giants.

“I have said this all along, and it baffles me when people are now jumping on the bandwagon,” Yorke said during an appearance on talkSPORT.

The former striker explained that he had recommended Emery several years ago, long before Amorim became a serious option for the Manchester United job.

“I said this two-and-a-half years ago. Unai Emery was the man to go and get way before Amorim has come into the equation,” Yorke insisted.

He argued that Manchester United should be prepared to pay substantial compensation to secure Emery’s services, just as they spend significant sums recruiting players. Yorke believes the club must give the Spaniard sufficient authority to implement his ideas and establish a sustainable structure.

“Pay whatever Villa has asked and get him. Give him the authority to come in,” Yorke added, reaffirming his belief that Emery could help restore United’s reputation and long-term competitiveness.

However, Yorke acknowledged that the players must also accept responsibility for their disappointing performances. He believes Carrick deserves criticism because he has struggled to inspire a reaction from his squad during the club’s difficult period.

“When things are good, which it was really good under Carrick when he first took over, football is easy,” the former Manchester United forward explained.

Yorke argued that a manager’s real qualities become apparent when results deteriorate and players must demonstrate determination, commitment and character to reverse the situation.

He questioned whether United’s squad members were genuinely prepared to fight for Carrick, suggesting their recent performances had failed to show the required passion and determination.

According to Yorke, losing matches can happen, but the manner of Manchester United’s defeats has been particularly concerning. He pointed to Tottenham’s ability to recover from difficult circumstances as an example of how managers must find solutions.

“This is the time as a manager when you’ve got to earn your coin and he’s not really doing that at the moment,” Yorke concluded, increasing the pressure on Carrick as United prepare for two crucial fixtures.