Michael Carrick: INEOS know what to do as CL return almost guaranteed | OneFootball

Manchester United are just one step away from Champions League qualification after their 2-1 win over Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday.

Two first-half goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko sealed the three points while Mathias Jensen pulled a goal back for the away side in the dying embers of the contest.

One more win will all but guarantee the Red Devils’ return to Europe’s premier club competition, a feat not many would have envisaged when Ruben Amorim was handed his marching orders.

Michael Carrick was brought in to steady a sinking ship, and so far, the caretaker head coach has done way more than expected.

What a turnaround under Michael Carrick

The performance against the Bees was far from vintage, with the visitors looking the more dangerous team for the whole 90 minutes.

But it is a results-oriented business, and picking up nine wins from 13 league games is impressive stuff considering the team he inherited.

Kobbie Mainoo was on the fringes, and looking likely to be sold, while Bruno Fernandes was being deployed in a deeper role, restricting his ability to influence games.

Benjamin Sesko looked short on confidence, and the team as a whole struggled for consistency. Not under Michael Carrick.

Michael Carrick deserves at least one more season, performances will follow

Bruno Fernandes looks a player reborn, as he picked up his 19th assist of the season, one away from breaking the all-time Premier League record.

Mainoo was running the show from deep at the Theatre of Dreams, while the Slovenian picked up his 11th goal of the campaign, his ninth since the Portuguese was sacked.

Carrick has done no wrong, and while a few will point to the performances not mirroring the results, INEOS will know not many could have come in and had this level of impact in such a short span of time.

If Amorim, after a disastrous six-month spell in the 2024-25 campaign can get another season, then surely Michael Carrick deserves at least a full pre-season and a solid summer of backing.

Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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