Ronaldo’s 2021 forecast comes true as Carrick starts on a high as Manchester United interim manager

Michael Carrick’s comeback as the interim manager of Manchester United has already made headlines, which included victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments from 2021 are becoming relevant again. He had said, “Michael Carrick was a class act as a player, and he can become a great coach as well. Nothing is impossible for this guy.” This is now applicable to Carrick’s stint as a manager.



Carrick’s first interim spell in 2021 demonstrated his coaching skills. This spell included a 2-0 away victory at Villarreal and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Both of these victories demonstrated his planning and strategy for each match.


Carrick employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, presses at the right moments, and alters his strategies for each team. The same qualities that made him such a great player are now being utilised by him as a coach. Carrick’s initial matches as a coach indicate that he can handle the team successfully.

The latest United's victory over Arsenal was their first Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium since 2017.

Arsenal had conceded three goals in a match for the first time since December 2023, as they had not allowed more than two goals in 121 games in all competitions.

Carrick repeated history against Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, having also beaten them 3‑2 at Old Trafford at the end of 2021.

With this win and a previous win over Manchester City, Carrick is the first manager in almost 16 years to have beaten the top two teams in consecutive league matches at the beginning of a tenure.



Get the latest WPL 2026 updates including WPL teams, full WPL 2026 schedule, and live scores for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals. Also check the latest WPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.