Michael Carrick has struck a tone of cautious optimism ahead of Manchester United's new Premier League campaign, acknowledging that a genuine title challenge remains a significant stretch for his side while refusing to rule it out entirely.
United have gone without a league title since Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge in 2013, and have not mounted a serious challenge in any of the 13 campaigns since. Yet there are reasons for renewed belief at Old Trafford after Carrick's side finished last season as the division's form team, collecting 39 points from 17 matches following his appointment as interim boss in January, a run that ultimately saw United finish third and Carrick handed the job on a permanent basis.
Asked whether winning the title was a realistic target this term, Carrick was measured but defiant. "It is going to be a jump," he said. "Whatever I say it doesn't really matter, whether I say we can or can't and I would never say we can't, by the way: I don't believe that. It is about what we can do and what we are capable of doing and what we believe we can do as a group."
He pointed to last season's strong finish as a source of confidence but stressed the scale of the challenge that lies ahead over a full 38-game season against reigning champions Arsenal. "The run of form we had last season gives us confidence but we know there is a whole new step to make as a group," Carrick said. "We know we have the potential to achieve things and we have got to believe we are a good team and can do good things."
United open their campaign with back-to-back fixtures against newly promoted sides, starting away at Hull City on Saturday before hosting Ipswich Town at Old Trafford the following weekend. Despite the opposition's status, Carrick was quick to dismiss any notion that the fixtures represent a soft opening to the season. "There are no favourable starts," he insisted. "It is a tough start. A newly-promoted team away from home will be a tough game. It is not favourable, it is an easy thing to throw out there but pretty ridiculous." He added that his own experience of facing promoted opposition in the past had left him fully aware of the difficulties United would face at Hull.
On the injury front, Mason Mount's involvement against Hull remains uncertain after the midfielder missed United's final two pre-season friendlies with a knock. "Mason will be back soon," Carrick said. "He has picked up a bit of a knock but there are no dramas." Defender Matthijs de Ligt, sidelined since the turn of the year with a back problem, has returned to training with the group but will not be considered for selection this weekend.
There was more encouraging news regarding Marcus Rashford, who could feature for United for the first time since December 2024 having spent the intervening period on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona. Carrick suggested the England forward could operate either through the middle or from the left flank. "He has come back fantastically well," the manager said. "He looks strong, sharp and ready to play football. He can play through the middle and he has done. We have forwards that give us that flexibility."
United remain active in the transfer market, having lodged a bid in the region of £60m for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with the club also said to be searching for a new left-back. Carrick confirmed further additions are being pursued before the window closes. "We are looking to strengthen the squad, we are certainly working towards that, and making the most of the situation that we have and trying to improve things and move forward," he said. "We are certainly trying to make the most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it."
Based on reporting from The Independent and The Guardian.