MANCHESTER, England — Michael Carrick appeared briefly frustrated during his weekly press conference on Friday. “When Manchester United loses, it feels like everything is criticized,” he remarked. “It’s easy to point fingers and say, ‘This is wrong, that is wrong.'”
This past week has been challenging for Carrick. The loss to Hull City during the season opener marked a significant low point in his tenure as United’s head coach. With Ipswich Town set to visit Old Trafford on Sunday, he had every reason to anticipate heightened scrutiny if the match didn’t go well.
His concerns heightened when Ipswich took an early lead. However, following a hat trick from Bruno Fernandes, a deflected shot by Harry Maguire, and a late goal from Bryan Mbeumo, the team secured an emphatic 5-2 victory. Carrick’s composure in a tough moment has been validated; it seems that not everything is amiss after all.
He managed a smile afterwards.
“It’s just the nature of football, isn’t it? The highs and lows,” he said. “What pleased me most was our discussion during the week about handling setbacks. Any successful team will face defeats, and it’s crucial to cope with them effectively.
“The way the players responded and delivered a performance like that stands out. There were many positives and excellent moments of football today.”
While scoring five goals and earning their first win of the season is promising, there are still concerns to address. United continues to seek a left-back before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, and this recent performance may intensify those efforts.
Luke Shaw was responsible for one of Hull’s goals last week and faced another tough match against Ipswich. He was outpaced early on by Julio Enciso, although Senne Lammens helped him out. Shaw will want to avoid seeing a replay of Ipswich’s first goal, where he was nutmegged by Abdul Fatawu, allowing for a cross that led to a goal by Leif Davis.
After the match, Shaw expressed that he was “angry and disappointed.”
United had considered Davis during their last search for a left-back when they looked at Patrick Dorgu in January 2025. This time, if a fullback is brought in, it is likely to be a backup for Shaw rather than a marquee signing. Although Lewis Hall was their main target this summer, negotiations with Newcastle may put that prospect on hold for at least a year.
United’s strategy has been to carefully and gradually build their squad.
Last summer, they revamped the forward line; this window has focused on the midfield. In a year, the defense will be prioritized, with plans to add two fullbacks and potentially a new center back, despite already having five in the squad.
“Given our current situation and the business we’ve accomplished, I’m pleased,” Carrick said. “We’ve become a stronger group, a better squad, and potentially a more capable team. For now, we are content but remain open to any new additions if they arise.”
Once the window closes on Tuesday, Carrick can look forward to a quieter week than the last.
He had to hold back on selecting Lisandro Martínez and Kobbie Mainoo against Hull due to their rustiness from the World Cup, but both players excelled upon their return against Ipswich.
Martinez’s distribution from defense was nearly flawless, though a late mistake allowed Ipswich to score. Mainoo’s standout moment came in the second half, where he skillfully maneuvered through three Ipswich players before assisting Matheus Cunha, who won a penalty for Fernandes.
Marcus Rashford made a lively return to Old Trafford for the first time since December 2024, while Fernandes, who provided an assist for Mbeumo to accompany his hat trick, was stellar.
Mbeumo’s goal in the 82nd minute marked the first time United scored five in a Premier League match since August 2021, and their 33 shots were the most in a league game in almost a decade.
As their rebuilding effort continues, United will experience both victories and defeats. A tough loss at Hull was succeeded by a solid performance against Ipswich.
Ultimately, Carrick, who has witnessed only three defeats since taking over as interim head coach in January, has earned the right to maintain his composure, even when under pressure. After a week of defending the state of affairs at Old Trafford, his team’s performance provided significant support for his assertion that not everything is wrong.