Commentators, pundits, and fans can certainly agree that Manchester United would have won the league if Carrick had taken charge at the start of last season.
When Carrick took charge in January 2026, Manchester United was seventh in the league and playing terrible football under Ruben Amorim.
The seventh position didn’t reflect the way the team was playing; some key players weren’t playing, and players were playing out of position.
The Great Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t coach the team, but he put in place coaches who knew how to get the job done whilst he managed the team.
Carrick has used the same blueprint when he took over as the interim manager in January. Carrick recruited the likes of Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate, who know the English football structure very well and who are intelligent coaches.
Carrick has transformed the team and has man-managed by putting his arms around the players, encouraging them to do their best.
Although preseason has been okay with the performances and the results, the team seems to understand the so-called ‘Carrick ball’ and has been implementing it very well.
The only missing pieces for Carrick to be successful this season are for the board to back him in the transfer window by signing a defensive midfielder and a left back to support Luke Shaw, and to have a fixed starting 11 with regular centre backs who can form a good and solid foundation because defence wins titles.
If Carrick carries on the same way that he has in the last campaign, he can win trophies at Manchester United.
His calm influence has transformed the United team, and some of the players are playing better football under him. It’s the sky’s the limit for Carrick’s team, but he needs to be backed in the transfer market; otherwise, he will fail this season.