Andy Mitten has revealed the clear-cut stance that is held at Manchester United around the first-team squad under the control of Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick has sparked a massive turnaround in form for the Manchester United first-team squad since he succeeded Ruben Amorim in the short term at the club.
The 44-year-old United legend was appointed interim head coach until the end of the 2025-26 campaign after the Red Devils sacked Ruben Amorim in January.
United have chalked up six Premier League wins under Carrick’s eight-match interim head coach spell so far, with the Red Devils’ first defeat coming on Wednesday.
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Michael Carrick looks dejected following the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
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Loss to 10-men Everton under Amorim vs Loss to 10-men Newcastle under Carrick
Which defeat is worse? Did Carrick repeat any Amorim mistake from that game?
Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick as Man Utd managers
Ruben Amorim vs Everton and Michael Carrick vs Newcastle as Man Utd managers
Andy Mitten rules out the belief of Man Utd thinking they can win the Premier League title under Michael Carrick this season
Manchester United’s improvement under Michael Carrick has seen the Red Devils firmly establish themselves in the race for Champions League football now.
The Red Devils are third in the Premier League table and United are level on points with fourth-place Aston Villa, with only nine league matches remaining this season.
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Carrick’s men are nine points behind second-place Manchester City and 16 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have played one match more.
Speaking on The Athletic’s Talk of the Devils podcast, Andy Mitten claimed that Man Utd are not convinced of a Premier League title challenge with their current squad.
“Michael Carrick is having to use players who probably don’t have a medium-term future at Manchester United,” he said.
“But they do have contracts and they are first-team players who are training all the time.
“So, he can only work with what he’s got. But no-one at the club thinks that this is a fully finished squad capable of winning the Premier League.”
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Newcastle United v Manchester United - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Andy Mitten on what has been said about Man Utd players under Michael Carrick’s watch at Old Trafford
The Red Devils suffered their first setback on Wednesday evening after 10-man Newcastle stunned United with a late 2-1 Premier League win at St James’ Park.
William Osula broke the 1-1 deadlock in the dying stages of the match and Newcastle walked away with all three Premier League points on the night.
When discussing players under Carrick, Mitten explained that the impression has been made that United lack sufficient talent to effectively challenge for the title.
The United We Stand founder and editor added: “Even some of the players who have impressed, people are thinking, ‘Yeah, he’s doing well; is he a player to be starting every week in a team that wins a league? We don’t know about that.’”
Aston Villa will visit Old Trafford on 15th March and Man Utd’s Premier League clash is slated for a 2pm kick-off in the UK.
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