Jamie Carragher does not believe Michael Carrick will lead Manchester United to Premier League glory and insists the club must plan for his eventual succession.
Manchester United enjoyed a strong end to the 2025/26 season compared with their difficult start and the bleak predictions surrounding their campaign. Under Ruben Amorim, the club appeared destined to finish outside the Champions League places, and the Portuguese manager was eventually dismissed after a poor run of results.
Carrick took over as interim manager following Amorim’s departure and immediately helped turn the club’s fortunes around. Manchester United eventually finished third and secured a return to the Champions League, which helped Carrick earn the manager’s job permanently.
There are now significant expectations and pressure on Carrick to perform at the highest level, particularly during a campaign in which Manchester United will play more than one match per week on average. However, Jamie Carragher has a different view of how the season could unfold under the new manager.
Jamie Carragher’s verdict on Michael Carrick
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Carragher insisted that Carrick does not possess the qualities required to lead Manchester United to the Premier League or Champions League title. He also suggested that the club should plan for the future if the English manager helps restore stability during the upcoming season.
The former Liverpool defender said, “I’m not saying it’s going to go wrong. What Manchester United have had for the last six months, they need that for another 12 months: not being the circus, not being the story all the time. Carrick brings you that.”
“But has he got that stardust to win the biggest trophy? I think you need to get to a strong position of being a proper Champions League club again. Then you ask, ‘What do we need?’ It’s like a player getting you to a certain level, and then you need that stardust.”
“I personally just don’t think Michael Carrick has got that stardust as a manager to win the Champions League or the Premier League. I don’t believe Michael Carrick will win the league or the Champions League with Manchester United, but he’s done a really good job. He could have a good season and put Manchester United in a position to then go and appoint a Champions League-winning manager.”
Manchester United currently have a competitive squad heading into the new season. However, there is still plenty of work to do in the transfer window, and if the club secure their main targets before the deadline, they could be discussed as potential title challengers.
At present, there is little evidence to suggest that United are ready to challenge for the title under their current circumstances, and Carrick may not yet have the squad required to do so. Nevertheless, Manchester United’s history shows that the club can surprise people. While a title challenge cannot be ruled out, it currently appears unlikely.