- Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2
- Michael Carrick insists it’s just a step
- Red Devils back in Champions League next season
Michael Carrick has insisted that Manchester United’s return to Champions League football is “just a step” following a 3-2 win over Liverpool. The English coach has delivered on INEOS’ mission to guide the Red Devils back to Europe’s elite club competition.
All United needed was a point to book their place back amongst Europe’s elite. It looked likely to be a thrashing when Carrick’s men raced into a two-nil lead in the first half through Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
That was until two clumsy mistakes from Amad Diallo and Senne Lammens allowed Liverpool back into the game. First, Dominik Szoboszlai struck before Cody Gakpo pounced on a loose ball to equalise.
Carrick’s biggest call has been to recall Kobbie Mainoo into the starting XI. He’s repaying his coach and he delivered the winner to ensure the hosts left Old Trafford with all three points.
‘Hard Work’ – Carrick on Champions League qualification
Carrick took over a United side that was enduring a tumultuous spell under predecessor Ruben Amorim. After a 15th-place finish last season, the squad was under huge pressure to deliver.
While there was improvement under Amorim, there were still glaring issues. But Carrick’s arrival has transformed the group, with the players able to express themselves more, none more so than Mainoo.
Carrick was asked by Sky Sports about achieving the goal of Champions League qualification:
“The work that’s been done and the way the players have performed and the teams we’ve come up against and got results against, it’s something we can take a lot from. The Champions League felt a bit in the distance at one point, to be honest. There’s been a lot of hard work to put us in this position.”
Carrick insisted the team aren’t getting carried away:
“It’s not something we’ve thought about as a group, really. It’s not something we overcelebrate; it’s a step. We want more, we want to be finishing higher up the league but certainly huge credit goes to the players and the staff for putting us in this position.”
Carrick’s future remains uncertain as his current contract with the club nears its expiration. He is in pole position to become United’s permanent head coach and he’s certainly speaking like one.
