Following Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal, Michael Carrick expressed that the team has “bigger games to come.” This win marked Carrick’s successful start as head coach and inspired the club’s supporters to chant, “We’re gonna win the league” at the Emirates Stadium.
The victory propelled United into the Champions League qualification spots, thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, and Matheus Cunha, who secured the club’s first league win away against Arsenal since December 2017.
Having previously defeated Manchester City 2-0 in Carrick’s inaugural match as head coach—after being appointed to replace the dismissed Ruben Amorim until season’s end—United currently sits 12 points behind the Gunners.
With United out of all domestic cup competitions and only 15 Premier League matches remaining this season, Carrick emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on each game, beginning with Fulham’s visit to Old Trafford next Sunday.
“I’m not getting carried away,” Carrick told the media. “We have significant matches ahead, and that makes each upcoming game even more crucial.”
“While it’s important to embrace the emotions and confidence gained from wins against City and Arsenal, we must also remain humble and aware of how we’ve achieved these results,” he added.
When asked about the possibility of becoming the permanent manager after the season, the former United midfielder stated the priority is simply to sustain their positive momentum under his leadership.
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“I won’t be discussing the manager position on a weekly basis,” Carrick stated. “I’m enjoying my time here and focusing on what I can contribute.”
“For us, it’s about progressing from one game to the next. We’ve only worked together for less than two weeks, so we need to keep instilling good habits and routines. The players have been fantastic in that regard.”
“It’s essential not to look too far ahead; we’ll see where we finish based on our results. While it may seem obvious, thinking too far down the line can be risky. We’ve approached this week by week, game by game, and will continue to do so, harnessing the emotions and energy from our recent successes.”
“Our focus is clear; we’ve made a solid start, but we must continue to build on it.”
However, the win came with a concern as Dorgu, the Denmark international, limped off towards the end. Carrick is optimistic that it was nothing more serious than cramp.
“Pat has been a key player for us recently, contributing significantly both in attack and defense against teams that challenge us,” Carrick commented. “I’m thrilled for him because he has worked hard in his performances. It’s great to see him smiling again.”
“He came off with some cramp, so I hope it’s nothing major.”