When Michael Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim in January, the challenge was clear: secure Champions League qualification for a Manchester United side that was, to put it mildly, in a rocky state. He has not only met that target but done so in style, with a victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford that made qualification a mathematical certainty.
Turning the Tide at Old Trafford
Questions will rightly be asked about how United squandered a two-goal lead, and Carrick would be the first to admit that the squad he inherited requires further work. However, a record of 10 wins from 14 games stands as a testament to the job he and his backroom staff have done in transforming United into a genuine force in a remarkably short period.
Victory over Liverpool not only sealed Champions League football for next season but also extended the gap between the two clubs in the race for third place. This felt like Carrick's last major hurdle with three games remaining, and he cleared it with aplomb. There is little more he can do to convince the United hierarchy that he is the right man for the job on a permanent basis. If they were to look elsewhere at the end of the season, it would be a gamble they simply do not need to take.
Reviving Kobbie Mainoo's Career
Among Carrick's most notable achievements over the past four months is resurrecting Kobbie Mainoo's career at United. Under Amorim, Mainoo had drifted significantly, but the new long-term contract he signed last week is a reward for Carrick's careful handling of the young midfielder. Mainoo celebrated by firing the winner in front of the Stretford End, echoing one of his finest moments in a United shirt when he scored a fantastic goal in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April 2024.
After the match, Mainoo paid tribute to Carrick's role in persuading him to commit his future to the club. 'He has played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players. You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch,' he said.
Amad Diallo's Struggles
Amad Diallo, once the hero of a famous winner against Liverpool in a sensational 4-3 FA Cup victory at Old Trafford, now looks a shadow of his former self. Substituted at half-time against Brentford on Monday, Amad came on as a replacement at the interval for the injured Benjamin Sesko after scoring United's first goal. However, almost his first contribution was to give the ball away, allowing Liverpool to break and score through Dominik Szoboszlai, threatening to turn the game on its head.
Amad has not been the same since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations for Carrick's first game in January. He was one of the few players who flourished under Amorim and perhaps the only one who has regressed under Carrick. Not surprisingly, the United boss offered him words of consolation after his error. 'Amad has been immense for us and offered so much within the group and the team to put us in this position,' said Carrick.
Goalkeeping Concerns
Senne Lammens has hardly put a foot wrong since arriving at United, making an early impression with an unflappable display in his first away game against Liverpool at Anfield in October. His error here was completely out of character but highlighted the pitfalls of playing out from the back. After misplacing a pass to Casemiro, he gifted Liverpool their second goal. One of the Belgian's qualities is his strength on both feet, but the wider question remains: do United have the players comfortable in this situation? Erik ten Hag discovered this early in his tenure, and Carrick must decide if the risk is worth taking.
