Top News

Manchester United have not managed to defeat all of their ‘Big Six’ opponents in a single season for the past three years, but interim head coach Michael Carrick has the chance to complete that achievement with a victory over Liverpool on Sunday. Should his team pull off that feat and secure third place in the Premier League, few could argue that he doesn’t deserve to remain in charge next season.

Carrick began his tenure with an impressive win against Manchester City in his first game at Old Trafford, before guiding his side to become the first European team this season to win away at Arsenal. A subsequent victory against Tottenham Hotspur – still considered part of the ‘Big Six’ despite their relegation battle – made it four wins on the trot. However, that early momentum was tempered by draws against West Ham and Bournemouth, followed by disappointing defeats to Newcastle and Leeds.

Carrick’s project regained momentum with a first win at Chelsea in six years, and Monday’s success over Brentford brought United to the brink of securing a top-five finish and a return to the Champions League. Liverpool, despite enduring a poor campaign with 10 defeats, remain defending champions and United’s fiercest rivals, ensuring that Sunday’s clash carries significant weight for Carrick.

It is widely expected that the interim manager will receive a new contract regardless of the result against Arne Slot’s side, but a win would all but guarantee his continuation.

More points than any Premier League coach

The numbers speak volumes. Under Carrick, United have won eight, drawn two, and lost two of their 12 matches. The 26 points collected since he took charge in mid-January would place them top of the Premier League if the season had started at that point.

For comparison, Ruben Amorim had accumulated 31 points from 20 league games before being dismissed. United have scored 24 goals and conceded 14, giving them a goal difference of 10. Under Amorim, those figures stood at 34 goals scored and 30 conceded, a difference of only four. It’s also worth remembering that United ended last season under the Portuguese coach in 15th place, with a goal difference of minus 10.

The players appear to share a good understanding with Carrick, though that comes with the obvious caveat that few would publicly admit otherwise. Nonetheless, there is a clear sense that he has built a stronger rapport with the squad compared to his predecessor.

“He knows how to talk to us,” said Bryan Mbeumo last month. Amad Diallo added, “He’s been doing so much for the team, he has a lot of experience and understands the club and its DNA. We think he’s the right man and we’re really happy with what he’s doing right now.”

He wants more

What stands out about Carrick – particularly in contrast to Amorim, who once labelled his side the worst team in club history – is that he remains unsatisfied despite clear progress. After virtually securing Champions League qualification with the win over Brentford, he made it clear that, by his standards, it was not a major achievement considering that during his playing days, United regularly competed to win both the Premier League and Champions League.

“The Champions League is one thing, but it’s not something we should be over-celebrating either,” he said. “We want to be challenging higher up the league and earning more points. Next season, if we get recruitment right and maintain a positive atmosphere, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

“We’re in a strong position now. Come February or March, we don’t want to be drifting like we did this year. We have to be in the mix for the biggest trophies.”

Good results, inconsistent performances

Despite United’s strong record over the past four months and their return to the Champions League after three years, many supporters remain quietly uncertain whether Carrick can truly take the team to the next level.

Even if Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides to keep faith in him, Carrick still faces a long journey to avoid repeating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fate. While results have generally been positive, performances have not always matched. Critics might argue that only the wins against City and Arsenal were genuinely top-class displays, with the Arsenal victory aided by two stunning long-range strikes from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha.

The win over Tottenham was helped by Cristian Romero’s red card, while the comeback victory against Crystal Palace came after Maxence Lacroix conceded a penalty and was sent off following a controversial VAR decision.

Lammens to the rescue

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was named Player of the Match in the win over Everton, and while Casemiro claimed the honour against Brentford, the Belgian shot-stopper could easily have deserved it. Against Leeds, United only found their rhythm after being reduced to 10 men, and they squandered an advantage against Newcastle even after the Magpies had a player sent off – reminiscent of the home defeat to Everton under Amorim.

Carrick has also faced criticism for being slow to react with substitutions, particularly in the draw against West Ham. However, he showed greater initiative against Brentford by replacing Amad with Noussair Mazraoui at half-time – though it was a defensive move that didn’t fully please supporters.

The interim coach has benefited from a relatively light fixture schedule, yet many fans feel his United side still lacks a distinct tactical identity despite having ample time on the training pitch.

Lack of elite alternatives

With top-tier candidates such as Luis Enrique and Thomas Tuchel unavailable, many fans and pundits see Carrick as the most practical option for now. Other potential candidates include Julian Nagelsmann, who remains under contract with Germany until 2028, and Andoni Iraola.

The Basque coach presents an intriguing alternative, set to become a free agent soon. According to The Telegraph, Iraola has recently emerged as a serious contender. He has impressed at Bournemouth, delivering exciting football despite losing key players each season.

The risk with Iraola is that he could struggle under the intense media scrutiny and the pressure of managing a squad full of strong personalities at Old Trafford. If he were to fail as Amorim did, the club’s decision-makers would face heavy criticism for not sticking with Carrick.

What the club needs now

Jamie Carragher summed up the situation aptly: “No Premier League or Champions League rival will be losing sleep if Michael Carrick is leading Manchester United next season,” he wrote in his Telegraph column. “But as the board reviews its options, Carrick is the ideal choice to take full control this summer, because he fits exactly what the club needs right now.”

United’s advantage with Carrick is his humility – he knows he’s not yet an elite coach and would likely accept a short-term contract without demanding a massive salary. That aligns perfectly with Ratcliffe’s cost-conscious vision for the club. Additionally, Carrick’s popularity among fans and his status as a key figure from one of United’s greatest eras make him a unifying presence, much like Solskjaer once was.

By steadying the ship, Carrick has also diverted attention away from Ratcliffe – at least until the next controversial interview. While he may not offer the most exhilarating football, he has restored stability and direction to a club that has long needed both. For now, taking a different path seems too great a risk.