Manchester United have received a clear shot up from coach Michael Carrick that they could make it to the later stages of Europe’s elite competition after their absence for two seasons. With Carrick gone, United are back in the Champions League after they came up runners-up in the Premier League last term. But the club’s recent form in the competition is a warning of how far the club has slipped from its standards.
Since making the big time in the 2011 Champions League final, when Carrick played in the United-Catlet defeat, the Red Devils have only made it to the quarter-finals twice. Bruno Fernandes’ stint in the European knockout has been particularly frustrating since his arrival at the club back in January 2020, playing in just one knockout tie.
The last time United played in the Champions League was December 2023 when they suffered a defeat to Bayern Munich after a disappointing run in Europe, finishing bottom of their group.
Carrick says there’s no need to let the past define the team’s ambitions. The former United midfielder admitted his team can face any team in Europe but added that they will need to be at their better form when they push through to the later stages.
“When we’re at our best, we can do some really, really good things,” Carrick said, emphasizing that United is a team capable of beating any team when it’s at its best.
Consistency was also identified as a challenge by the manager. If they are to get results, United have to keep up the quality they have shown this season during games and the whole season. Carrick’s message is a balanced one for the United turnaround in Europe. Instead of setting unreasonable expectations, the manager wants the club to grow slowly, and the mindset to return to high performance level.
With two years out of the Champions League, United now have the chance to find out if their Premier League resurgence from last season can be replicated in Europe.
