Even as he risks being consigned to Manchester United history, Michael Carrick was talking about Manchester United’s history. They are celebrating one of their managers and, whether or not Aston Villa are defeated on Sunday, it is not him. Friday marked the 40th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson ’s appointment. There is a dinner this weekend to honour the great Scot.

There is also the chance Sunday marks Carrick’s last game at the helm. Ferguson has been in charge for two-thirds of the last four decades and end his tenure of his own volition, retiring after 26-and-a-half years. Carrick could become the seventh man sacked since then , without even including the interim appointment Ralf Rangnick. He is already the fifth of Ferguson’s former players to have served as caretaker manager.

Ferguson has been the inspiration for them all. He remains the benchmark, the gold standard, but also the anomaly. A banner at Old Trafford, commemorating Ferguson, reads: “The impossible dream”.…