Just over a year ago Ruben Amorim infamously called his Manchester United team possibly “the worst” in the club’s 147-year history.
It was another naive mistake by the likeable Portuguese coach who, months later, followed up that startling admission with ill-timed, ill-conceived comments that put down both Kobbie Mainoo and Patrick Dorgu – two shining lights since his departure.
With Amorim consigned to a place among a sorry recent history of failed United managers, United now have their sights fixed on a Champions League place next season.
Die-hard United fans hope they can amass enough wins in their remaining 12 games to grab a taste of Champions League football for the first time since 2023, starting at Everton on Monday.
Given United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick’s interim leadership, it’s hard not to conclude that Amorim was the problem, not the players, though the truth of it lies somewhere in the middle.
What isn’t in doubt is that the feel-good factor is back at Old Trafford – big time. And Carrick has managed what Amorim couldn’t in that regard.
Carrick’s brought hope to a club that was treading water and the message has gone global.
Yet his methods haven’t had sorcery, magic or wizardry at their core. It’s not been a complex reinvention of the way United play.
It’s been based on a simpler tactical system that has utilised United’s strengths and brought the club back closer to its traditions in a matter of weeks.
Frank Ilett may not have his haircut yet as he awaits five wins in a row.
But United look to have turned a corner and are heading out of the cul-de-sac in which they’ve seemingly been stuck in for an age.
Whether it’s another false dawn it’s possibly too early to tell, but Monday’s trip to Everton will answer many of those doubts.
United go to the Hill Dickinson Stadium as a different team to the one who pitifully lost in the reverse fixture to a 10-man Everton team 1-0 in November.
That game opened up perfectly for United when Idrissa Gueye was sent off after only 13 minutes at Old Trafford for an altercation with Michael Keane.
But United ended up losing tamely to create another low point in Amorim’s tenure.
Despite a draw at West Ham last time out, United go to Everton still on the front foot with fans revelling in the new found optimism Carrick’s appointment has triggered.
United’s remaining games are far from an easy run-in, with trips to Newcastle and Chelsea as well as home games against Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Eddie Howe’s team apart, they are teams who are all fighting for a Champions League place.
To United’s advantage is that all four are either still in Europe, the FA Cup or both, while Carrick and his squad have nothing to distract them from a strong Premier League finish.
The key to that will be the experienced old heads in the team in Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw – four players that all looked on the way out last summer as United toiled under Amorim.
Now they’re the Fab Four – players Carrick can rely on to guide United through the most important 12 games in the last decade and more since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.
Fernandes Ready to Stay – On One Condition
Manchester United expect to fend off big Saudi interest in Bruno Fernandes again this summer – but it’s believed the Old Trafford captain has different plans.
Sources close to Fernandes say he’s certain to stay at the club if they clinch Champions League football next season.
Fernandes is said to be as “upbeat and positive” as he’s been for some time at United having formed a close working relationship with interim coach Michael Carrick.
The Portuguese star, who cost £47 million from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, is contracted to United until June 2027 with a further one-year option.
With United already losing Casemiro this summer, they can’t afford to see Fernandes leave as well.
United’s recruitment team are assessing potential targets to help replace Casemiro and have been impressed with Forest’s Ivory Coast star Ibrahim Sangare as a player who can bolster defensive midfield.
Carrick Considered Using JJ Gabriel
Although his focus is the first team and targeting Champions League football, it’s believed Michael Carrick has taken a personal interest in United’s Under-18 team.
Carrick made the journey to Oxford to see United reach the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals in style with a 4-1 win.
While JJ Gabriel caught Carrick’s eye with a fine goal, it’s believed Carrick has no immediate plans to promote the 15-year-old to the first team squad just yet.
So far Carrick has only played one current academy player in Tyler Fletcher, son of Darren Fletcher, although he has also included Tyler’s brother Jack on the bench, as well as young winger Shea Lacey.
Carrick is thought to have told staff at Carrington that if United had still been in the FA Cup he’d have thought hard about some involvement for Gabriel.