Headline: Manchester United’s Michael Carrick Acknowledges Need for Summer Squad Improvements
Manchester United’s manager, Michael Carrick, acknowledged that the team still requires strengthening this summer, although they will not be making expenditures on the scale of their Premier League competitors. So far, United has invested approximately £85 million in players including Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow. Despite this spending, United remains the only club among the Premier League’s “big six” that has yet to surpass the £100 million mark for a single player.
With a return to the Champions League on the horizon, United seeks to enhance their squad depth, particularly in the midfield following Casemiro’s departure. At a pre-season training camp in the Republic of Ireland, Carrick commented, “I think we’ve done really good business and we’ve got really some top, top, top players. We’re delighted with that. We always want to improve. We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that. That never stops.”
As other clubs ramp up their summer spending, with Chelsea allocating £117 million for Morgan Rogers, Manchester City signing Elliot Anderson for £116 million, and Tottenham acquiring Sandro Tonali in a potential £100 million deal, Carrick noted, “Money’s money, I get that. It’s still about the football, and that’s where the competition lies.” He added, “Certainly the situation is what it is as well, whether that’s finances or whatever. For now, we’ve got to make the most of it, but we’ve got to keep pushing.”
When questioned about why United is not spending at the same level as other clubs, Carrick replied, “To be honest, I haven’t got the answers for that. We’re working with pushing everything that we can to make the best of it.”
Returning from the World Cup, Marcus Rashford has rejoined United this week. Following a loan at Aston Villa last season, Barcelona chose to forgo the option to buy the England winger, raising questions about his future. Carrick affirmed, “He’s our player, and he’s a good player and he gives us something a little bit different in the group. Marcus can offer us so much. He has done, and he can do again, so in that respect it’s quite exciting.”
Several players have voiced their belief that they can compete for the 21st league title, which would be their first since 2013. While this reflects enthusiasm from the squad, Carrick was more measured in his response. “We’ve definitely got the potential to achieve something really special. I’m not hiding from the fact, and we should aim to do that, but I can’t give you a definite answer on that. It’s certainly what we’re pushing to do because we have to, because that’s the club we are.”
Carrick initially stepped into the managerial role in January after Ruben Amorim’s departure, and he signed a two-year contract in May. He expressed that he is unconcerned about the additional scrutiny that may accompany a longer-term contract, stating, “I’m not fussed. Doesn’t bother me anyway. I’m just going about trying to win and trying to do the right thing for the football club.”
Michael Carrick has admitted Manchester United still need to strengthen this summer but they will not be splashing the cash on the level of their Premier League rivals.
United have so far spent around £85m on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow, but after another big summer of spending elsewhere they are the only one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ still never to have broken the £100m mark on a player.
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United need to build depth ahead of a return to the Champions League, and their midfield reinforcements come after Casemiro’s exit.
United signed Youri Tielemans in a £35million deal from Aston Villa (Niall Carson/PA)
“I think we’ve done really good business and we’ve got really some top, top, top players,” Carrick said at United’s pre-season training camp in the Republic of Ireland.
“We’re delighted with that. We always want to improve. We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that. That never stops.”
But United are trying to keep pace as Chelsea have spent £117m on Morgan Rogers, cross-city rivals City signed Elliot Anderson for £116m and Tottenham brought in Sandro Tonali in a deal that could rise to £100m.
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“Money’s money, I get that,” Carrick said. “It’s still about the football, and that’s where the competition lies.
“Certainly the situation is what it is as well, whether that’s finances or whatever. For now, we’ve got to make the most of it, but we’ve got to keep pushing and push everything and every boundary that we can to be able to win again.”
When asked why United were not spending on the level of other clubs, Carrick added: “To be honest, I haven’t got the answers for that. We’re working with pushing everything that we can to make the best of it.”
Marcus Rashford has been back with Manchester United this week after spending last season on loan at Aston Villa (Niall Carson/PA)
Marcus Rashford is back with United this week after returning from the World Cup. Earlier this summer Barcelona declined their option to buy the England winger following last season’s loan, and questions remain over his future despite Carrick talking up his reintegration.
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When asked directly if the 28-year-old was for sale, Carrick said: “He’s our player, and he’s a good player and he gives us something a little bit different in the group.
“Marcus can offer us so much. He has done, and he can do again, so in that respect it’s quite exciting.”
This summer a number of Carrick’s players have expressed belief they can challenge for what would be a 21st league title, and first since 2013, next term. While that is music to the ears of the manager, he was not so forceful himself.
Michael Carrick said he was “not fussed” if he faces a different kind of scrutiny now he has a longer-term contract as United manager (Niall Carson/PA)
“We’ve definitely got the potential to achieve something really special,” he said. “I’m not hiding from the fact, and we should aim to do that, but I can’t give you a definite answer on that. It’s certainly what we’re pushing to do because we have to, because that’s the club we are.”
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Carrick took the job on an interim basis in January following Ruben Amorim’s exit, but signed a two-year contract in May. The 45-year-old insisted he was not worried as to whether a longer-term deal meant he might now be judged differently.
“I’m not fussed,” he said. “Doesn’t bother me anyway. I’m just going about trying to win and trying to do the right thing for the football club.”
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