Sir Alex Ferguson didn't use to call on Michael Carrick at Manchester United until the weather turned and it was raining in autumn.
'Michael was always a slow starter when he first arrived,' recalled Ferguson. 'The rain started in September and October and he came into his own.'
Well, the dark clouds have certainly been gathering over Old Trafford and Carrick is the unlikely figure United have turned to following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Michael Carrick (centre) will be calling the shots as Manchester United interim boss for now
Carrick has taken over the reins following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking on Sunday
If the club stick to their plan, Carrick is the caretaker who will be replaced by an interim manager who will be replaced by a permanent boss by the start of next season. Keep up.
It doesn't sound like the most auspicious of starts, but the Solskjaer story tells us that just about anything is possible if results go your way.
From Vicarage Road to Villarreal, it has been quite a 48 hours for the former England midfielder who touched down here in Spain on Monday night having been thrust into the spotlight following Solskjaer's last stand against Watford.
Carrick's first game in charge will be an important Champions League tie against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Tuesday evening that could have a major impact on United's hopes of qualifying from Group F.
He made a point of paying tribute to Solskjaer at the start of his first press conference, describing the emotional scenes around Carrington on Sunday when executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward relieved the manager of his duties before asking Carrick to step in. It's a responsibility he was ready to accept.
Carrick's first assignment is a tricky Champions League clash at Villarreal in Group F
'This club has been my life for an awful long time now,' said Carrick. 'It's the sacrifice and dedication that you've got to give, and I'm prepared to do that for however long it takes.
'Whether it's one game or two games, whether it's a little stretch longer than that, right now I'm not too sure.
'I'll do my best and whatever results we get - hopefully we get good ones, and we should get good ones, I truly believe that - we'll wait and see what happens after that.
'It's a limited time, yes of course it is, but it's a challenge that I'm relishing at the moment. Sitting here it's a huge responsibility, I can't wait for the game to come around.'
Like Solskjaer, Carrick is a former United player who had a key role in a Champions League triumph, even though his penalty in the shootout win over Chelsea in Moscow in 2008 doesn't compare with the Norwegian's famous goal in 1999.
