Senne Lammens isn’t hiding from the truth; he knows Manchester United have to beef up their squad this summer if they want to handle both the Premier League and Champions League next season.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland showed just how thin United are right now. Casemiro, Benjamin Sesko, and Manuel Ugarte all sat out with injuries, and you could feel their absence on the pitch.

It’s been a weird season for United. They played just 40 games, the fewest in over a century, because they were eliminated from Europe and both domestic cups so early. But now they’re back in the Champions League, and Lammens realises the team has to get deeper if they want to compete seriously.

“Yeah, definitely. This league’s tough, and next year’s schedule is going to be insane,” the goalkeeper said. “You want to have enough reliable players, people who can step up whenever they’re needed.”

Lammens made it clear that United must invest in new signings during the summer window. He’s not saying the squad lacks quality now, but he knows things will get tougher. “Honestly, I think we’ve got a lot of talent this year,” he said. “But next season’s going to ask a lot more from us, and you need to be ready for injuries and everything that can come with a busy year like today, when we missed a few regular starters. Being able to call on others to jump in really matters.”

He wants a strong, well-rounded group ready for the challenges ahead. “We’re already building towards that, but we want to be even stronger for next season.”

Some people wondered if United relaxed after they clinched their Champions League spot by beating Liverpool last weekend. Lammens brushed that idea off. He said head coach Michael Carrick was all over them, reminding everyone to finish the season on a high.

“I don’t think so, not for me at least,” Lammens said. “The manager made it clear that these last games are important. We want as many points as we can get and to finish as high as possible. How you end the season carries over. It’s your launchpad for next year. We want to keep the momentum going.”

He didn’t want to hear any excuses. “Honestly, if we’d played at Sunderland a few weeks ago before securing the Champions League, it still would’ve been tough. That wasn’t in our minds.”

Carrick echoed those thoughts after the match. He sounded almost annoyed when asked if the players were mentally on holiday already.

“I get almost offended by that,” he said. “The way the players prepared and battled out there, it’s clear they’re still focused. If we’d been off it, we’d have lost. Sunderland pushed us hard at times.”

He thinks the pride and responsibility of playing for Manchester United is all the motivation the team needs. “That’s what keeps us sharp, knowing we represent something big. That doesn’t guarantee we’ll always play brilliantly, but it’s enough to fight through tough days.”

When Manchester United put Michael Carrick in charge back in January, the message was pretty clear: get us into the Champions League and we’ll call it a win. Honestly, with only one competition left, that was the goal. On Sunday, after a wild 3-2 victory against Liverpool, Carrick delivered. United booked their Champions League spot with three games still to play. A draw would’ve done the job, but a win feels sweeter.

Still, no one at Old Trafford promised Carrick the gig beyond this season just for pulling that off. When Carrick arrived, everyone figured he’d be here till May, plug the gaps, keep things steady, and then step aside for someone else.

But the way things have played out, it’s not so simple. Carrick’s done well enough to put himself in the mix, maybe even to stay on as coach next season.

The decision isn’t so straightforward, though. Let’s break down the arguments for and against making Carrick the permanent manager.

Why Carrick Might Not Be the Right Call

Look, there’s no denying he delivered. If United end up third, you can’t really ask for more this season. The tough part is his resume. Before this, Carrick managed for a short stretch in the Championship and half a season at United. If we pretend he’s not a club legend and just another guy who snagged a top-four spot after four months, would he be in the conversation for the United job? Not a chance.

Handing him the reins screams “safe pick” instead of real ambition. The new owners keep talking a big game about restoring United to their past glory, chasing the biggest names in coaching. If you want to show rivals you’re serious, you don’t usually go for the rookie manager with a feel-good story; you go big, like someone with Luis Enrique’s CV.

To be clear, Luis Enrique is just one example. There are plenty of coaches out there who would be considered heavy hitters and would make United’s rivals nervous. Appointing Carrick doesn’t really send shockwaves through City, Arsenal, or anyone else.

Beyond that, United under Carrick haven’t been flawless. Lately, their expected goals numbers have dipped, and that second half against Liverpool, where the team completely fell apart after going 2-0 up, leaves plenty of questions. They lost control and discipline, especially in the middle of the park.

And don’t forget this has an all-too-familiar feel for United fans. Ed Woodward, the club’s old executive vice-chairman, made a similar move with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: brought in a former player as caretaker, then kept him on permanently. People never shook the feeling that a more experienced manager could have taken the club to new heights. In the end, the club settled for comfort rather than reaching higher. It’s easy to spot the same pattern forming if Carrick gets the job full-time.

Why Carrick Makes Sense

But, honestly, if you look closer, what Carrick’s managed should get some credit. He didn’t just reach the Champions League; he did it with authority.

Back in January, United were seventh – not out of the race, but sitting eleven points behind City and Villa. Fast forward to now, and they’re not just in the top four; they’re ahead of Villa by six points, and they’ve already wrapped things up with games to spare. Carrick’s team beat all the other Big Six clubs and the rest of the current top five.

Since he took over, United have picked up more points than anyone else in the league. Yes, City have a couple of games in hand and could squeak ahead, but Carrick’s work stands out. Arsenal, meanwhile, have actually dropped more points in the same period.

What’s crazy is that he’s done this with almost the same squad Ruben Amorim had. Amorim was rigid, stuck to his system; Carrick’s been flexible, playing people where they thrive. He shifted away from Amorim’s three-at-the-back setup, freeing Bruno Fernandes to roam and influence games. Bruno looks like he could win Player of the Season. The change also let Kobbie Mainoo shine; he’s become a regular and signed a new deal, which is wild when you remember how little he played under Amorim.

That tells you two things: Carrick and his coaches know how to get the best out of this squad, and the players are totally behind him. Mainoo even said after beating Liverpool, “You want to follow him and fight for him and die for [Carrick] on the pitch.” Not much clearer than that.

For the club, keeping Carrick around feels like low risk. The players trust him; he knows the lay of the land, and you avoid the drama that comes with shaking up the whole operation, something the board might appreciate after the Amorim saga.

Plus, with United watching the bottom line, Carrick won’t break the bank. They can probably give him a short contract and keep their options open. If you try that with a coach like Luis Enrique, you’ll likely get shot down.

And let’s not ignore the timing. 2026 is a World Cup year, and if United find some momentum, they won’t want to throw it away by gambling on a new manager right before the tournament. If they do look elsewhere, it’ll probably be someone easy to hire right at the end of the season.

Andoni Iraola is a name people bring up, but after the Amorim experience, United may be wary of going for another up-and-coming coach. At least with Carrick, you know what you’re getting.

Right now, Carrick’s earned the right to be in the conversation. If United pass him over, it’ll just show they never really believed he was their guy long-term because, honestly, he’s done almost everything possible to prove himself.