Manchester United’s Lowest Point? Michael Carrick Takes Charge with Season Still Alive | OneFootball

At first glance, it feels painfully familiar. Another Manchester United manager dismissed for failing to meet expectations. Another former player handed the keys until May.

Michael Carrick is the latest interim manager, replacing Ruben Amorim this week and joining a growing Old Trafford alumni list that already includes Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The difference this time? United at their lower ebb in the modern era.

How Low Can You Go?

Last season brought the club’s worst Premier League finish. Eighth under Erik ten Hag in 2023/24 caused uproar; Amorim somehow took things further backwards, limping to a scarcely believable 15th-place finish in 2024/25.

The consequences were severe. No trophy. No Europe. And no margin for error.

This campaign began with humiliation — a League Cup exit to League Two Grimsby Town in August — and continued with a home FA Cup defeat to Brighton in the third round. With no European fixtures and no cup football left, United will play a 40 match season for the first time since 1914–15.

Another historic low for Manchester United. Image: @optajoe/x

What Rates as Success for Carrick?

Despite a string of underwhelming league results, United remain inexplicably just one point off fifth place — and potential Champions League qualification.

Caretaker Darren Fletcher, who oversaw two games following Amorim’s departure, insisted those positions were still the target. He departed, however, with a pointed message for the squad after a draw against newly promoted Burnley and the FA Cup loss to Brighton.

“There are experienced players in that dressing room who need to come together and carry the team, who need to challenge the team, who need to make the new players understand it, and pull them along with them and drag them,” Fletcher said.

Carrick inherits those same players — footballers who have failed under Amorim, under Fletcher, and under several managers before them.

The former Middlesbrough boss does have precedent. In 2021, during his previous caretaker spell at United, Carrick went unbeaten in three matches, beating Arsenal, drawing with Chelsea and winning at Villarreal after Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s dismissal.

If Champions League football is to remain realistic, similar standards will be required immediately. United have drawn their last three league games against eminently beatable opposition — Wolves, Leeds and Burnley — and now must find a way to raise their level fast.

First comes a derby against Manchester City. Then a trip to champions-elect Arsenal.

Supporters would welcome a return to Europe’s elite, but many would settle for Europa League qualification — and, perhaps more importantly, evidence that this team can still compete.

United have fallen so far that a 1–1 home draw with a struggling Wolves side was greeted with mild disbelief, but little surprise.

How Might Carrick Set Them Up?

At Middlesbrough, he favoured a 4-2-3-1 system — the same shape he used during that 3–2 win over Arsenal in 2021. Only four players from that matchday squad remain: Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot and Amad Diallo.

Amad has just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations and is back in training at Carrington, alongside Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo. Converted into a wing-back under Amorim, the exciting 23-year-old played as a right-sided forward at AFCON — and how Carrick uses Amad could be telling.

With only Matthijs de Ligt injured, Noussair Mazraoui still at AFCON and youngster Shea Lacey suspended, many options are available. What has been missing is the right combination.

How Manchester United could line up under interim manager Michael Carrick.

This season is not over. And United cannot afford to treat it as if it is.