Manchester United’s return to the UEFA Champions League has intensified talk of Michael Carrick being given the job permanently. The interim boss has overseen a sharp turnaround and the latest win over Liverpool only strengthened his case.
United confirmed Champions League qualification with a 3-2 win at Old Trafford. After the game, Carrick reflected on the turnaround since taking charge in January.
“It’s been a good run. We’ve beaten some very, very good teams and it’s been tough. Sometimes we’ve won it one way, sometimes we’ve won it another way. I love what I do. It’s a great position for me and it’s quite natural to be completely honest,” Carrick said.
“I’m not happy because it’s a difficult role, but it feels like I’ve been here for a long time, at different times on and off, but I understand what it brings and sitting in this position is a good position. We’ll have to wait and see. When we came in, the Champions League was a little bit out of sight,” he added, so to be where we are, he has three good games at his disposal.
The result capped off a strong run under Carrick, who has now won 10 of his 14 games in charge, taking United into the top five on a losing streak after a difficult first half of the season.
WILL CARRICK BE PERMANENT MANAGER OF MAN UNITED?
Carrick’s numbers make a strong case.
The 44-year-old has overseen a clear turnaround since taking over in January, with United climbing to third place with 64 points from 35 games. More importantly, he qualified for the Champions League, something that seemed unlikely when he first entered.
Apart from the results, there has been a visible shift in how United approach games. They found ways to win in different situations, as Carrick himself pointed out.
“Nice question!”
Michael Carrick wouldn’t be drawn on his @ManUtd future after their 3-2 win over Liverpool. Click to watch the full interview — Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2026
However, the decision is far from simple. A return to the Champions League brings more pressure, more games and the need for more squad depth. The United hierarchy will have to decide if Carrick is the long-term answer or if they look for a more experienced name to take them to the next stage.
Carrick’s stance remains measured so far, but his impact is hard to ignore.
HOW MANCHESTER UNITED BEAT LIVERPOOL
The game itself mirrored United’s season under Carrick, at times controlled, at others chaotic but ultimately effective.
United started strongly, taking a 2-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the sixth minute, then Benjamin Sesko doubled the advantage.
Liverpool responded quickly in the second half. Dominik Szoboszlai pulled one back in the 47th minute and Cody Gakpo equalized nine minutes later as United briefly lost control.
But just as the momentum seemed to swing, Kobbie Mainoo stepped up. His strike from the edge of the box in the 77th minute restored United’s lead and proved decisive.
The victory not only sealed Champions League qualification but also underlined the turnaround under Carrick, with United now eyeing a return to Europe’s biggest stage.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
04 May 2026 08:05 IST
