Michael Carrick enters his first full season as Manchester United head coach with a clear mandate to strengthen his squad. Having secured 12 victories in his 17 matches in charge last term, Carrick is now focused on the challenges of a full Premier League campaign. He describes leading the club as a “privilege,” though he remains acutely aware of the intense public scrutiny that accompanies the role.
However, this high-profile position requires addressing thorny issues with the media, which currently include a perceived lack of signings. Carrick says he is delighted with United’s business so far, having spent £83m to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, with the out-of-contract Karl Darlow also joining as back-up goalkeeper.
Despite these additions, Carrick acknowledges that the club must continue to be active in the market to address specific gaps, particularly at left-back and in central midfield, as the team prepares for a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. The club has faced a challenging transfer window, missing out on key targets such as Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes because they refused to match rival offers. With the club currently spending less than newly promoted Ipswich and Coventry, Carrick knows more transfer business is essential to avoid the costly mistakes of the past.
“We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that,” he said. “Money’s money, I get that. We feel like we have to be pushing for everything we’re involved in, while being realistic of what the recent history’s looked like over a period of time. For now, we’ve got to make the most of it, but we’ve got to push every boundary we can to be able to win again, basically.”
On a personal level, Carrick had an excellent day on Thursday as his daughter achieved the A-level grades she was hoping for. He cut a relaxed figure, benefiting from a rare summer where his club avoided draining trips further afield. Instead, the team travelled to Scandinavia for matches against Wrexham, Rosenborg, Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain, before facing Leeds in Dublin.
“I love the position I’m in,” he said. “There’s the football side; the tactical, the training, putting the team together. Then there’s the other side; being the face of it, leading it, trying to set the right messages, the right behaviours and right tone for what we want to look like as a football club. I never take anything that this position and this football club brings for granted.”
Regarding Marcus Rashford, Carrick was given a number of opportunities to confirm the forward will remain a United player when the transfer window closes on 1 September, but he did not take them, repeating only, “He’s our player.” He stressed that Rashford is not the only player in his squad he has previously coached or been a team-mate of, noting, “It is not a unique situation at all and we treat him exactly like any other player.”
Many supporters have not forgiven Rashford for his coolness towards United during loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona. It is accepted that there is a world of difference between the disinterested figure he became under Ruben Amorim and the fully motivated one who is widely accepted to be the best player to come through the club’s academy since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Rashford’s return to United colours is likely to be against Amorim’s AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday.
Carrick feels the 28-year-old still has a lot to offer. “Football’s got different directions,” he said. “You’ve got to manage through the states to have a career for 10 or 15 years. It’s never going to be smooth sailing. But you’ve got to keep moving forward. If you keep looking back too much, it doesn’t do anyone any favours. It’s been good to have Marcus around this week. He’s our player. He’s a good player, and he gives us something a little bit different.”
Kobbie Mainoo, who was revitalised under Carrick during the second half of last season, also returned to the fold. Carrick spoke to Mainoo throughout the World Cup and says he has been in great spirits this week. “I spoke to him all the way through the World Cup, not loads, but little bits,” he said. “He’s still such a young man and he’s achieved so much, so quickly. To be at the stage he’s at is an achievement.”
Historically, Carrick faced challenges during his own playing career, having been overlooked for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad despite England’s need for his ball-retaining abilities, and similarly ignored by Fabio Capello during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
As the new season approaches, the focus remains on integrating these players and building on the momentum established last year. Carrick remains committed to the long-term vision of the club, balancing the immediate need for results with the necessity of strategic squad development.
