Michael Carrick’s Unwavering Focus on the Job at Hand

Michael Carrick has been careful not to reveal whether he is interested in becoming Manchester United’s permanent manager. Instead, he has chosen to focus on the present and the immediate results under his leadership. During a recent match at Emirates Stadium, Carrick’s children were among the 3,000 fans who traveled to support the team. They joined the crowd in celebrating when Matheus Cunha scored the third goal and again when the final whistle confirmed a 3-2 victory—United’s first win at Arsenal in eight years.

It is unclear whether Carrick’s children were still singing in his honor 15 minutes after the game ended. However, given the energy of the visiting supporters, it is likely they were part of the celebration. Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has had few reasons to smile during his two years of overseeing the football side at Old Trafford, appeared pleased with the result.

Under Carrick’s guidance, United has secured two consecutive wins in his first two matches as interim manager. This achievement was something that Ruben Amorim managed once during his 14-month tenure—part of a three-game winning streak earlier this season that earned him the October Manager of the Month award.

So far, United has accumulated six points under Carrick. In comparison, Amorim took five games to reach seven points, only to lose the next three matches. The team has also shown significant improvement by earning twice as many points from their past two games—against the top two teams in the league—as they did from the previous three games against Leeds, Wolves, and Burnley.

Just six weeks ago, few would have favored Carrick over Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner for the managerial position. But now, the narrative has shifted.

“I’m here to do a job… I’m not getting carried away,” Carrick said when asked about his potential future role. His cautious approach reflects a mindset focused on the process rather than the outcome.

The voices that previously warned against repeating the mistakes of the 2018-19 season are finding their concerns challenged by the current success. That season saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer take over as interim manager, leading the team to an impressive run of eight consecutive wins and a Champions League upset against Paris St-Germain. Despite these early successes, the momentum eventually faded.

Carrick, however, remains grounded. He emphasized the importance of “riding” the current wave of success, which includes the emotional highs of beating Manchester City and Arsenal. While he allowed himself a moment of joy on the touchline when Cunha scored the winner, he remained focused on the bigger picture.

“You have to ride it, and use the emotion, the energy and confidence,” he said. “But you also have to be humble and realize how we have achieved these two results.”

He refused to engage in discussions about whether he wants the permanent role. “I am here to do a job,” he said. “When I came here less than two weeks ago, I said we would make every decision for the bigger picture. We are not getting carried away. It is two huge results, but we will keep our feet on the ground.”

Carrick has made several adjustments since taking charge, including moving away from Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation and returning to a four-back system. He has also recalled Kobbie Mainoo and pushed captain Bruno Fernandes further forward. One of his boldest decisions was selecting Patrick Dorgu over Matheus Cunha in the attacking left role, a move that proved highly effective. Dorgu has scored twice in Carrick’s two games, while Cunha added a stunning winner at Arsenal to his assist in the previous match.

“He [Cunha] epitomises what we’ve been like,” Carrick said. “He has not started both games and he’s been disappointed not to start. But he’s used it in a really good way. He’s had a real big impact and two huge moments.”

Cunha noted the “different energy” under Carrick’s leadership. “He played here so many years,” he said. “He knows the feeling for Manchester United. He spoke with us and told us how big it is to play for this club. He said everyone is against us, so we have to go on the pitch and give everything.”

While others assess Carrick’s impact, he remains focused on the task at hand. Micah Richards praised the change in spirit under Carrick’s leadership. “The overall spirit looks different. The big question was: Could they back up the win over Manchester City? They backed it up all right.”

Three weeks ago, Carrick was vacationing in Barbados with Wayne Rooney. On Friday, the pair watched Kai Rooney help United’s Under-18 team reach the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup. If anyone understands Carrick’s mindset, it’s Rooney.

“Two wins out of two against Manchester City and Arsenal,” Rooney said. “I don’t think he would have dreamed of that start when he took over last week. You’ve seen a complete change in everything since he’s been in.”