Michael Carrick has spoken ahead of Manchester United’s return to action against Leeds United, addressing the team’s long break, their recent form, and the pressure of the Premier League run-in as the club pushes for a Champions League return.
Speaking about the unusual gap between matches as reported by Manchester United via their YouTube channel, Carrick admitted it has been a rare situation for his squad, but insisted the focus has remained sharp:
There’s not really much opinion to have. As a club, you’re always looking to evolve, to improve things… we always want to put ourselves in a better place moving forward. Stadium, training ground, supporters, relationships everything is about trying to improve.
United have not played since their dramatic 2–2 draw with Bournemouth, a match which ended amid VAR controversy and frustration for fans. Carrick, however, refused to get distracted by past results, stressing consistency and focus:
It’s all about what’s next really… we’re not looking backwards to say how great it’s been. It’s about finishing the season strong and pushing forward.
On the team’s current position in the table, with United sitting third and holding a strong advantage over rivals like Chelsea, Carrick remained calm despite growing expectations:
We’re in a good place, but we’re not getting carried away. There are steps, and we just keep building on that. The boys are in a good place, the squad is in a good place, and we keep pushing forward.
He also addressed whether missing out on the Champions League could be seen as failure, especially with key fixtures ahead:
We want to be challenging at the very top, but there are steps. It’s about realism as well, looking at where we came from and where we are now. We keep progressing.
Carrick was also pressed on the importance of Champions League qualification for recruitment and player retention, particularly with speculation around key stars:
Champions League brings so many positive things… it’s where we want to be. It affects everything players staying, players coming in, financially too. It’s about trying to be there more often
Finally, when asked about contract situations and squad planning, he confirmed discussions are ongoing but nothing is final:
There’s work going into the summer planning, but nothing is fully sorted yet. We’ll cross that bridge later. At the moment, it’s about focusing on what’s ahead.
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Softfootball notes that United’s current momentum despite the interruption of the international break remains strong under Carrick, especially after recent results including the Bournemouth draw and the important win over Aston Villa, which have kept them firmly in control of their top-four ambitions heading into the Leeds clash.
