Mark Bosnich: Still no signs of Manchester United revival despite fresh injection of club DNA

Manchester United may have appointed an interim manager in Michael Carrick but for me there's still no signs that this club will get any better.

I wish Carrick all the best, he was a wonderful player and has managed before but this is a club that's a fallen giant that needs a big overhaul.

And they need to do it quick.

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This has not been a four or five year downfall, this has been over a decade.

The results have given people hopes at times but overall there's just been turmoil. It's time for the supporters to demand a level of transparency they haven't been given.

I have made my point clear that the sporting director should be there to help the manager and now it's time to make sure whoever gets that role is given full support.

The manager's name is on the project, and they live and die by decisions from the club.

There are some managers that may get ahead of themselves and need oversight, but there needs to be clear lines between who does what, and that needs to be decided before a manager is appointed.

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It needs to be clear about whatever is going on at the club. The decision makers need to be transparent.

You cannot make decisions that impact the team and when things go wrong, hide behind the manager. That's just wrong.

As for who should be the next manager, my former teammate Gary Neville has spoken about that person needing to fit the DNA of the football club.

I understand where he's coming from but I think it's time to forget the past and move on.

The club has slipped significantly and its DNA will always be there but the times have changed, players have changed.

I think we've had 13 years of suggestions about the club needing different things but they simply need to start winning and let the supporters enjoy the football again.

MANCHESTER DERBY'S HUGE STAKES

This is a huge match for obvious reasons, with the two Manchester giants to line up for the latest instalment of their storied rivalry at 11.30pm (AEDT) Saturday.

There's no denying how big it is for Michael Carrick as he faces his first match in charge.

In terms of Manchester City, it's a big game for different reasons.

They're at a completely different level and right in the mix for the title.

The split between Arsenal and City is six points. Aston Villa is sitting right alongside City too.

City will be thinking they had a really good win in the EFL Cup which should secure a spot at Wembley and their form in the Champions League and FA Cup is good.

But this is a different ball game, especially considering how they went last season. They rightfully will start favourites and should win and it will put more pressure on Arsenal.

Arsenal will have to play Nottingham Forest away and will know the result of City's match beforehand.

City risks giving the Gunners a bigger lead and they can't afford that. The clock is starting to tick now on the title.

THE VILLA PHENOMENON

My former club's rise to the top three after a tough start to the season has been remarkable.

That 4-1 loss to Arsenal before 2026 started was a wake-up call but they've fought back well.

Sitting third on the Premier League ladder, they are really a team to be reckoned with. The match against Everton (Monday 3.30am AEDT) will be difficult but the Toffees haven't won at Villa Park in the Premier League since 2016.

This is another good opportunity for Villa to keep pressure on Arsenal. Regardless of the title chase, Unai Emery's side can't let this top four position slip with a Champions League spot up for grabs.

They have a tough run ahead with Europa League matches against Fenerbahce and RB Salzburg all before the end of the month, along with Premier League clashes against Everton and Newcastle.

Usually the game before the European matches is the danger one and Villa will need to make sure they're concentrating against Everton.

THE MAGIC OF THE CUP

Macclesfield's win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup showed once again that some things never grow old.

The sixth tier club's win was the first time since 1909 that a non-league team had defeated the FA Cup holders. Ironically, it was Palace that achieved that feat over a century ago.

The furthest I went in the 155-year-old competition was a semi final against Liverpool in 1996 but one game that sticks out is from 1994 for Aston Villa.

This match was the third round against Exeter away. It was hairy.

We didn't take it easy but we still thought it's Exeter, we should be OK. But it was raining and cold and we only won 1-0 in the end.

It was one of those matches you have to be very careful otherwise you're going to be part of history for the wrong reason.

You can prepare as best you can, but mentally you have to be up for it. Sometimes going to those grounds and with the amount of games that a team like Crystal Palace have played, there is a tendency for teams to mentally think someone else will perform today.

It goes to show with the depth there is in England, that if you're not 100 per cent prepared something can happen.

It might be brilliant now looking at Macclesfield but for the Crystal Palace players and the club, that will go down as one of the greatest upsets and you don't want to have that headline for your club or team.