WHY HARRY MAGUIRE BELIEVES MICHAEL CARRICK IS THE HERO UNITED NEEDED
Harry Maguire credits Michael Carrick for bringing "fresh energy" as Manchester United stun Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium.
Harry Maguire couldn’t stop praising Michael Carrick after Manchester United’s wild 3-2 win over Arsenal on Sunday. He said Carrick has really fired up the team since stepping in as caretaker manager. United’s win at the Emirates came right after they beat Manchester City 2-0—so, yeah, Carrick’s had a dream start back at Old Trafford.
The hero this time? Matheus Cunha. He smashed in a brilliant late goal to seal the win, breaking Arsenal’s unbeaten home streak. Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu also found the net, and suddenly Arsenal have dropped points in three straight Premier League games. Their lead at the top is down to just four points over Aston Villa and Manchester City. Meanwhile, Carrick has picked up a perfect six points from his first two matches since taking over from Ruben Amorim.
After the game, Maguire told Sky Sports just how much this win meant. “It was absolutely massive,” he said. “The first game, the derby at Old Trafford, can go either way, but we had to back it up. Coming here to the league leaders—they’ve been outstanding; they really push you. To come back from a setback late on and get the winner, that’s a huge performance. Michael’s come in, brought fresh energy, and the group feels totally galvanised. These were two really tough matches. Most people probably thought we’d struggle, but we’ve won both. That’s just brilliant.”
Carrick tried to keep things in perspective, though. He said, “It’s only been ten days. We’re not perfect yet—we’re just getting started. It’s a good foundation, but we need to keep building and add more layers, and we’ll do that in the next few weeks.”
Cunha, who grabbed the winner, spoke to BBC’s Match of the Day about what Carrick brought to the club. “He gets what it means—he played here so long. He knows what Manchester United is all about; he knows what the fans want to feel. He keeps reminding us, tries to get us all on the same page, and makes us feel like it’s us against the world. I think that’s brought us closer together.”
He went on, “We showed real character and strength as a group. We knew what we were up against—honestly, Arsenal are probably the best team in the world right now. They’ve been with Mikel Arteta for years and know every detail. We knew it would be tough, but we’re united. Everything we do is about winning games.”
WORLD CUP BOUND? THOMAS TUCHEL CONFIRMS KOBBIE MAINOO IS "BACK IN THE PICTURE" NOW
Gary Neville blasts Ruben Amorim for "killing" Kobbie Mainoo's confidence. Discover how Michael Carrick revitalised the United star.
Gary Neville didn’t hold back about Ruben Amorim’s decision to keep Kobbie Mainoo on the sidelines. He called it the worst move Amorim made as Manchester United manager. Mainoo, just 20, didn’t start a single Premier League match before United sacked Amorim on January 5. Then Michael Carrick took over. Suddenly, Mainoo became a fixture in the lineup, and United rattled off four straight wins. The kid’s form has been so good; he’s now pushing for a late spot in England’s World Cup squad this summer.
Back when Amorim was running things, Mainoo thought he’d have to leave just to get the game time he needed for England manager Thomas Tuchel to notice him. That’s exactly why Neville thinks Amorim’s refusal to give Mainoo a chance helped lead to his downfall.
“Kobbie Mainoo didn’t even get a chance under Ruben, really,” Neville said on Stick to Football. “If you look at Mainoo now, in this team, it’s just obvious that was Ruben Amorim’s worst decision.”
After Amorim lost his job, Neville went even further. He said Amorim “killed” Mainoo’s development. “Honestly, I never liked how Mainoo was handled,” Neville said. “We’ve talked about it a lot on this show. When Amorim said at the start of the season that it was either him or Bruno Fernandes, I didn’t agree. It killed Mainoo’s confidence, and then he barely played just that one cup game against Grimsby.”
Now, with Amorim gone, Mainoo has a shot to keep proving people wrong, starting with United’s trip to Everton next Monday. Another strong game, and he’d make a real case for Tuchel to call him up for England’s friendlies in March.
Tuchel himself just said Mainoo is “back in the picture” for England, along with United teammates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. Speaking at the Nations League draw on Thursday, Tuchel called Mainoo “a huge talent". He added, “He’s already played a tournament for England from start to finish. So he’s back, and so are Luke and Harry. Suddenly, there are a few players back in the mix. United are playing with a back four and a different style now, which fits better with what we’re doing. That’s real competition.”
RED TO BLUE? WHY MANCHESTER UNITED ARE PLOTTING A SHOCK ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER RAID
Manchester United are targeting Alexis Mac Allister! Get the latest on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s shock raid on rivals Liverpool today.
Manchester United are actually considering a move for Alexis Mac Allister, a star currently playing for their old rivals, Liverpool. Right now, United’s putting together a shortlist of midfielders they want to go after in the summer, and Mac Allister’s name keeps popping up. The people in charge at Old Trafford are watching his situation closely.
There’s a lot of talk about Mac Allister possibly leaving Liverpool when the season ends. He’s still under contract at Anfield until 2028, but his season hasn’t gone smoothly. He’s struggled to hit top form, and, honestly, you can tell it’s been a tough year for him.
Getting Mac Allister out of Liverpool would be a massive challenge for United. Sure, a few players have worn both shirts – Michael Owen and Paul Ince come to mind – but it’s rare. Nobody’s moved directly between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall did it back in 1964. That kind of transfer just doesn’t happen.
No one knows yet if Mac Allister even wants to leave Liverpool. He has said he’d like to play in Spain one day, so that’s something to think about. United also realises that, unless they make the Champions League, signing a player of his calibre just isn’t realistic.
Still, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s co-owner, wants to explore every option. If Mac Allister becomes available, United would be interested, no question.
Mac Allister only joined Liverpool from Brighton last summer for £55 million, then helped them win the Premier League. Before that, he played a huge part in Argentina’s World Cup win over France in 2022. No wonder he’s seen as one of the best midfielders in the world.
United’s not just looking at him, though. They’re also keeping an eye on Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, and Elliot Anderson as they try to shake up their midfield for next season.