Michael Carrick is poised to become Manchester United’s permanent manager for the upcoming campaign, a view strongly backed by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. United have edged closer to a return to the Champions League after securing a 2-1 victory over Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday, tightening their grip on a qualifying spot.
With just four Premier League fixtures remaining, the Red Devils sit third in the table, enjoying an 11‑point cushion over sixth‑placed Brighton. That margin positions them to clinch a Champions League berth as early as next weekend when they host arch‑rivals Liverpool. The interim manager, Carrick, has overseen nine wins in 13 matches since taking charge in January, a run that Carragher described as "sensational" and indicative of a title‑contending side.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher asserted, "He’s going to be the Manchester United manager, certainly next season, no doubt about that – and you can’t say he doesn’t deserve it. The results have been absolutely sensational, the kind you’d expect from a title‑winning team or a side fighting for the league." Carragher added that while United currently enjoy a relatively low‑pressure environment – they are not yet involved in European fixtures – the consistency of Carrick’s performances makes it hard to argue against his appointment. "Now I know that pressure isn’t on Manchester United right now, they haven’t got European fixtures, all these other things will come into it, but I don’t think anybody could have come in and done any better results‑wise," he said.
Harry Maguire, speaking to Sky Sports about Carrick’s impact, highlighted the confidence boost that the string of wins has provided. "The results help the feeling of confidence about Michael Carrick massively. We had two tough fixtures when Michael first came in – Arsenal and Man City – and we managed to take six points. Everyone believes in it, we’ve grown together, and we know we can score from anywhere.
We can still improve our formation, move quicker across the pitch, and become a stronger defensive unit," Maguire explained. Maguire continued, "The results speak for themselves. Since the manager arrived and changed the formation, we’ve started winning. Under Rubén Amorín the games were 50/50 and we often ended up on the losing side.
Now we’re better at both ends – we defend better and we’re more clinical in attack." Former United captain Gary Neville, on his podcast, praised Carrick’s efficiency with the squad. "If Michael Carrick were honest, he’d say he’s getting the absolute maximum out of this group of players. Twenty‑nine points in 13 games since he arrived is brilliant. The performances against City and Arsenal were outstanding, and although we haven’t hit that height every game since, we’re still finding ways to win even when we’re not at our best.
That’s the mark of a good manager." Neville also noted Carrick’s long‑term thinking. "He looks at the group of players on the pitch and thinks about the club’s future, even if he isn’t there at the end of the season – which is unlikely. In the second half of the Brentford game he showed tactical nous, adjusting the system when the first half wasn’t working.
He proved he can be agile and shut down a game when needed." Carrick himself acknowledged United’s improved standing after the Brentford win, saying, "It’s another win. We have an important game coming up this weekend, so we can look forward to that. It’s a big game for different reasons but we’ve put ourselves in a good position." He admitted United could have scored more, but emphasized the importance of securing points at this stage of the season: "It’s the time of year when it’s a results business.
We needed the points and we’ve had a fantastic two games after the Leeds defeat." The Brentford match saw the visitors fight back in the second half, with Mathias Jensen finding the net late, but United held firm to preserve the three points. The victory pushes United even nearer to a guaranteed Champions League spot, and a win over Liverpool at Old Trafford could seal their return to Europe’s elite competition. Overall, the consensus among pundits, former players, and the squad itself is that Carrick has revitalised Manchester United’s performance levels.
His tactical flexibility, ability to inspire confidence, and knack for turning close games into victories have convinced many that he deserves the permanent role. As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on the final fixtures to see whether United can clinch that coveted Champions League place and cement Carrick’s status as the man to lead the club into the next era.