Michael Carrick has beaten the two best teams in England in his first two games as interim manager, but he’s now set to face the test Ruben Amorim failed.
The template to win for Man Utd in both games was sharp and simple, as they stayed solid in defence, and hit quickly in transitions.
Michael Carrick deserves a lot of plaudits for how quickly he drilled the team, but to be fair to Ruben Amorim, even his team did better when they had less possession.
How many points will United get from our next five games?
It's been a perfect start for Michael Carrick, will it continue? Which games are you worried about?
Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Carrick will take on the role of the progressor for the first time vs Fulham, and to ace that challenge, he must unleash the unstoppable Man Utd wonderkid.
Harry Maguire, Shea Lacey, Tyler Fredricson, Mason Mount, Sam Mather of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on October 17, 2025
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s test where Ruben Amorim failed
Most Man Utd fans who have watched this team for the last decade know that in the games against Arsenal and City, even if the performance was surprising, the result was mildly expected.
It’s hard to forget how United beat City under Mourinho in their own backyard to delay title celebrations, only to hand the title the next game by losing at Old Trafford to bottom-dwellers West Brom.
United are a counter-attacking team who struggle to break down low blocks when they are asked to keep the ball in the opponent’s half for a long time.
More United News
Amorim couldn’t do it, and it led to some of the ugliest games of football ever seen at Old Trafford, with the home loss against ten-man Everton the nadir of his reign.
After beating Arsenal and City, Carrick will face a low block for the first time in his Man Utd managerial career, even dating back to his short 2021 interim spell.
Results in these games will go a long way towards deciding whether United keep their Champions League qualification place, or fizzle out the same way literally every other United squad has previously.
Fortunately, he has an ace in the hole that Ruben Amorim refused to use, and he’s in unstoppable form.
Carrick must unleash Shea Lacey in the coming fixtures
Shea Lacey saw the peaks and troughs of senior football in quick succession recently when his sparkling cameos against Burnley and Brighton were cut short by a sending off in the latter game.
However, instead of feeling down, Lacey took a step back and tore apart the U21s football by playing like a man who had clearly outgrown that level.
How good can Shea Lacey become? Who does he remind you of?
Darren Fletcher has made a big prediction about Shea Lacey!
Fletcher / Lacey
Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
He struck two goals past Fulham U21s in his first game after getting sent off, and he followed it up with a brilliant free-kick from range against Brighton.
Amorim infamously refused to use Lacey when the team was in dire need of invention and spark, but Carrick won’t be the same.
Lacey’s skill set is tailor-made for tackling low blocks, as he has the ability to beat his man off the dribble, and the nous to manufacture space to get his shot off in style.
He is the hidden ace to bring on late in games to break down the opposition’s stubborn resistance, because he has the X-factor to conjure up a moment of magic.
Fortunately for Carrick, he’s a man on a mission too if his form is any indication.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox