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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Jonathan Wilson

Are Manchester United about to return to relevance under Michael Carrick?

Youri Tielemans, Michael Carrick, Andrey Santos.
Youri Tielemans, Michael Carrick and Andrey Santos have reason for optimism this season. Composite: Getty Images

Manchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.

There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.

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