Following a dramatic 3-2 victory over rivals Liverpool, MU officially secured their place in the Champions League next season.
Carrick still needs to prove himself in the final three games.
Currently, Manchester United are in third place in the league table with 64 points, creating a safe distance of 12 points over sixth-placed Bournemouth. Their final three matches against Sunderland, Nottingham, and Brighton seem to be merely a formality, because even if they lose all three games, their position will remain unchanged.
Nevertheless, for coach Michael Carrick personally, the 90 minutes of each upcoming match will still carry the weight of a true final because he remains extremely hungry for points to prove his capabilities.
Dispelling lingering doubts
From the position of a stand-in, Carrick has guided Manchester United through a storm to safety. The young strategist has earned high marks with iconic victories, successively defeating top rivals such as Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, and most recently, Liverpool.
That impressive achievement is the clearest proof of his ability, yet doubts about his long-term coaching experience have never completely disappeared from the minds of fans.
Fans and the club's hierarchy still harbor concerns that Carrick might become a new version of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who achieved numerous successes as interim manager but then proved utterly disappointing after signing a permanent contract. Because of this painful lesson, the Manchester United leadership has decided to postpone making a final decision on the manager's future until the end of the season.
A Champions League spot is clearly a necessary condition, but the performance in the remaining three matches will be the decisive test for Carrick. Imagine if Manchester United play lacklusterly, without energy, and fail to win all three games, or worse, suffer two or three defeats. In that case, the situation would immediately reverse against Carrick, his previous achievements would be overshadowed, and the rumors and gossip would resurface strongly.
The players still need to fight for Carrick.
Tactical problems and challenges for stability.
If Carrick chooses the safe option of keeping the current squad intact, he could certainly secure favorable results in the final three matches. However, Manchester United's owners likely have much higher expectations for him. They want to see Carrick boldly experiment, outline the team's image, and define its playing style for next season during this crucial period.
More precisely, the management is waiting to see what other groundbreaking tactical moves this coach has up his sleeve to help the attack become more diverse and effective, as well as how he will re-establish and operate the midfield without the services of key midfielder Casemiro.
The last three matches were therefore not a walk in the park or a period of rest. In terms of strength, playing away at Sunderland, hosting Nottingham at home, or traveling to Brighton's fiery stadium didn't present the same level of difficulty as facing the "Big 6" teams, which Carrick had beaten in every game. However, to consider these opponents easy to bully would be a huge mistake.
The reality is that Manchester United under Carrick still have moments of losing focus and underperforming, exemplified by the two bitter defeats against Newcastle and Leeds, teams struggling in 13th and 14th place in the league table. Therefore, Manchester United's next three matches are highly anticipated. They will be the most accurate measure to test the consistency of their playing style and, especially, the fighting spirit of the players in their quest to keep Carrick in his position.