Michael Carrick has expressed firm belief that Manchester United’s roster has taken a step forward thanks to the club’s activity in the recent transfer window. The former midfielder highlighted the impact of the new arrivals, noting that the squad looks stronger both individually and as a collective unit. During the summer, United concentrated on reshaping their midfield, bringing in three high‑profile players: Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, and Carlos Baleba from Brighton.
In addition, goalkeeper Karl Darlow arrived on a free transfer after leaving Leeds United. These moves accounted for a net outlay of roughly £118 million, a figure that, while substantial, was still lower than the spending of newly promoted sides such as Ipswich and Coventry. Former England defender Gary Neville has publicly urged United to bolster their defensive line before the window closes, suggesting that further investment may be required.
Despite the criticism about the club’s defensive spending, Carrick remained upbeat about the overall quality of the squad for the remainder of the campaign. Speaking at a charity golf event for his foundation, he said, "We have added some excellent players to the club and improved the squad in several ways, both on an individual level and as a team. I feel we have grown.
When you go into a transfer window you hope to emerge stronger than you were before, and I am convinced we have achieved that." He acknowledged that transfer windows are rarely straightforward, especially this one, which has been complicated by the sheer amount of money circulating throughout the Premier League. "There are clubs spending huge sums, and sometimes they spend more than us, sometimes less.
We have to make the most of the resources we have and understand our position. I think we are a very good team and we want to keep improving," Carrick added. United’s start to the new season was far from ideal.
They suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of newly promoted Hull City on opening day, a result that could have set a negative tone for the campaign. However, the team quickly rebounded with a convincing 5‑2 victory over Ipswich Town in their first home fixture. Carrick praised the resilience and character shown by the players after such a setback, saying it gives him confidence moving forward. "Since I returned and we built this group together, we have experienced a few losses and setbacks, but the way the lads have responded gives us a lot of courage for the future," he explained.
"There will always be moments that don’t go your way – whether it’s a single game or a specific incident within a match – and we talked about that this week. The response we displayed and the confidence the players showed tells you a lot about the character of this group." He also highlighted the tactical adjustments made at half‑time in the Ipswich match.
"We did many good things in the first half, and when a few minutes didn’t go our way, we carried that into the second half and produced some very solid football," Carrick said. "People often focus on the final score and the goals, but the mentality we displayed is what pleased us the most. It provides a strong foundation for the weeks ahead." While several United players performed admirably against Ipswich, the spotlight inevitably returned to Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese midfielder opened his season tally with a third hat‑trick for the club and supplied a brilliant assist for Bryan Mbeumo’s goal. His exploits prompted former United great Gary Neville to label him the best signing since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, a compliment that Carrick echoed without reservation.
"I have spoken a great deal about Bruno, and it simply illustrates what he is capable of," Carrick remarked. "His importance to us cannot be overstated; he has consistently delivered over a long period, and since we resumed working together, his influence has been entirely positive.
He sets the example every day – his training ethic, his attitude, his hunger to win – and then he translates that into performances like the one we saw this weekend." Carrick noted that while Fernandes naturally draws headlines, the entire team contributed to the impressive result. "Bruno gets the headlines, and I understand why – his moments were truly special.
But there were other individuals who also had fantastic afternoons. The game is a team effort, and I am confident we will see more of those standout displays as the season progresses," he concluded. Looking ahead, United will aim to maintain the momentum built from the Ipswich win, continue integrating the new midfield signings, and address any defensive frailties that Gary Neville highlighted. With Carrick’s confidence and the squad’s evident determination, the Red Devils hope to turn early disappointment into a sustained challenge for the Premier League title.