Michael Carrick has described his role as Manchester United manager as feeling "natural," following a crucial 3-2 victory over Liverpool that secured the club's return to the Champions League next season. The win, which guarantees a top-five Premier League finish with three games remaining, marks a significant milestone for the former United midfielder, who took over in January after Ruben Amorim's dismissal.
For Carrick, this achievement fulfills the primary objective he set upon stepping into the hot seat. "I love doing what I'm doing, and it's a great position for me to be in," he said. "It feels pretty natural if I'm totally honest. I'm not being blasé because it's a difficult role, but it feels that I've been here a long time. I kind of understand what it brings, and to be sat in this position is a good position."
Carrick's journey to the helm has been unique. While he previously served on United's coaching staff and enjoyed a brief three-game interim spell in 2021, his only prior managerial role came at second-tier Middlesbrough. Now, he's emerged as the frontrunner for the permanent job, though the club has also been linked to Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The financial rewards of Champions League football will provide a significant boost for whoever leads the squad into the transfer market. However, Carrick is already looking beyond mere qualification. "When we came in, I think Champions League, to be honest, was a little bit in the distance. To be where we are with three games to go, there's a lot of satisfaction that comes with that, but that can't be everything," he added, hinting at loftier ambitions for a club that hasn't won the Premier League in 13 years.
Sunday's match itself was a thriller. United raced to a 2-0 lead, only for a depleted Liverpool side—missing stars like Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike—to fight back and level at 2-2. It took a late winner from Kobbie Mainoo to seal the victory, leaving Liverpool's Arne Slot to rue what might have been. "Our second-half performance showed we were capable of getting a result despite our absentees," Slot said, as the Reds now face an uphill battle to secure their own Champions League spot after an 11th league defeat this season.