Third place secured – what challenges are ahead for Carrick?

May 17, 2026 No Comments

Third place secured – what challenges are ahead for Carrick?Figure caption, ‘We wanted to end on a high’ – CarrickBySimon Stone

Manchester United reporter

18 minutes ago

Clarity “in the next few days”, smiled Michael Carrick to the assembled media when he was asked, again, in his post-match press conference after Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest if there was any update on his future.

“It has been pretty clear.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was at Old Trafford for United’s 11th victory in 16 games under their ‘temporary’ boss. So too was Carrick’s trusted advisor, in the posh seats, where Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox sit.

All are aligned on the future. It is only confirmation we are waiting for now.

Carrick’s appointment on a two-year deal, with a one-year extension, is expected from United shortly.

After taking Manchester United back into the Champions League following a two-season absence and securing only a fifth top-three finish since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Carrick is deserving of a shot at the job full-time.

However, the hard work might only just be beginning.

Third in a 40-game season, with no Europe and exits at the first hurdle from both domestic cups – before Carrick arrived – is an achievement. However, in the storied history of the club, which the 44-year-old was a central part of for 12 years, it is at the bottom end of the ambition scale.

Asked for his view on what improvements United needed to make to get to the level required, Carrick offered this appraisal.

“There’s a couple of sides to it,” he mentioned.

“There is understanding the position we want to get to from where we’ve been and understanding what steps that takes.

“You want to keep improving but the closer you get to the top of the league, the harder it gets. You’ve got to make big steps, but it’s harder to make those big steps.

“Certainly, evolving the group is one thing. That’s not a negative on the group as it is now, we’ve got a good group of players we want to try to improve and get better.

“Is that additions, or additions and some of the younger players, who will be better for it again with an extra season of experience?

“There is no magic ingredient. It’s hard work, a bit of brains, a bit of intelligence and good players as well.”

So, what is in Carrick’s ‘in tray’?

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What signings are needed?

Image caption,

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is top of Manchester United’s list of midfield targets

Last summer’s recruitment was excellent. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens have all made a positive contribution.

This summer needs to be just as good.

For a start, United need to sign at least two, possibly three, central midfielders.

They have been linked with several players including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba – who they were keen to sign last summer and may be available this time for substantially less than the £100m fee being bandied around 12 months ago.

Then there is Ederson from Atalanta, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Bournemouth duo Tyler Adams and Alex Scott, Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Aurelien Tchouameni, who was involved in that huge bust-up with Real Madrid team-mate Federico Valverde.

At the top of the list in England’s Eliot Anderson, who for the second time this season was outstanding against United for Forest.

It was Anderson who was the supplier for Morato’s equaliser just as it was Anderson who was rampaging through the home midfield in the first half.

It did appear Forest boss Vitor Pereira was damning the 23-year-old with faint praise when he reacted to a question about Anderson’s performance by stating it came “in an open game”.

However, Pereira’s other words left no doubt.

“He has the talent to be one of the top of the top,” he mentioned.

“He can score more goals and take a little bit more risk in the last third because he has a very good shot.

“It depends on the system. If we give him total freedom to build the play, he can do everything. But we are playing with two midfielders, which is a system that doesn’t give him total freedom to create.

“He needs to understand when the other one loses their position, he cannot, but he has a lot of talent. He is young and will fly with big wings.”

In addition to central midfield, Carrick needs a left-sided player, presumably in defence to support Luke Shaw given Patrick Dorgu, signed as a wing-back, is seen as more of an attacking player than a defender.

United may also need cover for Lammens in goal and Sesko in attack.

Who will join Casemiro in leaving?

‘Special day, very emotional’ – Casemiro

This is a key question. Carrick validated in his post-match address that Tyrell Malacia will join Casemiro in departing Old Trafford this summer. The same is also true of Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund, whose loan to Napoli will become permanent now they have qualified for the Champions League.

There is uncertainty over another on-loan pair Andre Onana and Marcus Rashford purely on account of their wages but inside Carrick’s squad there are players few external observers believe are good enough.

Joshua Zirkzee was introduced into the game against Forest, Manuel Ugarte was not. Tears would not be shed by supporters if the pair were not around next season.

Mason Mount has been linked with a summer move away from Old Trafford but speaking in the last couple of weeks, the former Chelsea star gave every indication of wanting to be part of next season’s push for honours.

United blocked a potential return to Turkey for back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir in January. They are unlikely to do so again this summer.

Will Shea Lacey and JJ Gabriel get a chance in pre-season?

Tyler Fletcher and JJ Gabriel collected respective Under-21 and Under-18 club player of the year awards prior to kick-off against Forest.

In a pre-season campaign that begins against Wrexham in Helsinki before the World Cup final is over, when any player involved in the tournament is likely to be missing, that pair are among the academy stars in line to get a chance to shine.

The same is also true of Tyler’s twin brother Jack; England Under-20 international Shea Lacey and Jacob Devaney, who has done so well on loan at St Mirren over the second half of the season. United’s Under-18 skipper Dan Armer impressed United coaches in the FA Youth Cup final. Midfielder Jim Thwaites did not do as well but has shown enough promise to get on the first-team bench last month.

All are likely to be given a chance. The big question is which players will take it.

What about Carrick’s coaching team

If Carrick’s appointment is fait-accompli, the unknown is what will his coaching team look like?

It would seem fairly obvious Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans will continue. Travis Binnion has impressed with his work on the attacking side but he already holds a crucial role as head of player development within the club’s academy.

Binnion has been almost ever-present at youth games since moving into the senior coaching team. With substantially more games, it is impractical to think he could continue to do both jobs.

Carrick may also look to broaden his coaching team. Aaron Danks worked with the former midfielder at Middlesbrough and has been linked with a move to United from Bayern Munich, where he currently works under Vincent Kompany.