Manchester United's real test will come next week! Carrick urges players to stay humble and says he is not considering a permanent role

Manchester United won 3-2 away at Arsenal, securing back-to-back victories in Carrick’s first two games as head coach, and successfully breaking into the Premier League’s top four. However, compared to the advantage gained in the Manchester derby, this victory was harder fought and somewhat fortunate. Carrick praised the team’s collective spirit but urged the dressing room to remain grounded.

Carrick said, "I think this game was unlike last week, with a lot of ups and downs in the score. Last week, the majority of the match favored us, but today the lads had to give their all, show resilience, and perform when it mattered most. Celebrating the win with the fans and feeling that atmosphere at the end was fantastic. I think this is what we all crave — turning around a crucial game and winning, it’s incredible."

Now, Manchester United has beaten two top teams whom outsiders didn’t expect them to overcome, and their upcoming opponents are less formidable. For example, next Sunday’s opponent Fulham is not traditionally a strong side. But under Marco Silva’s management, they currently sit 7th, just 4 points behind United, so they should not be underestimated.

Carrick clearly knows that in the past, Manchester United would often lose focus after beating strong teams and then suffer unexpected defeats against other opponents.

He reminded the players, "The squad is in good form thanks to the coaching staff, logistics team, and everyone’s joint efforts. They quickly refocused after last week’s game and got back to work. A new week has started, and there’s another important match ahead. We will approach next week’s game with the same attitude, cherish this feeling, and turn it into confidence and belief. But the key is to get back to work, back on track, and stay humble. The lads have done excellently in this regard this week, and we must keep it up."

Carrick, whose current contract runs only until the end of this season, also emphasized that he is not thinking about making his role permanent. "I’m really enjoying the job right now. It’s a dream position. As for what happens next? I won’t answer that question every week. I just want to keep doing my best in this role."

Carrick again reminded Manchester United players to maintain humility. "I know the first two games were tough, but harder matches lie ahead. These two wins are crucial for boosting morale and spirit, strengthening confidence and motivation," he said. "We still have many areas to improve, and we want to progress."

Repeating an important point three times, Carrick added, "I won’t get carried away; bigger games are still to come because the next game is always the most important. So, we can’t lose our heads. There are very significant matches ahead, and the whole team must keep improving. These two key wins have brought a lot of optimism, energy, and confidence, but we must remain humble and understand how we achieved these results — that is vital for future development."

If Manchester United can maintain their current momentum, the chances of finishing in the top four or top five to return to the Champions League this season are high. At the Emirates, away fans were even chanting, "We want to win the Premier League!"

In response, Carrick said, "I am clear that from our perspective, the most important thing now is to focus on the next match. We’ve only worked together for less than two weeks, and the key is to continue building good habits and daily routines. The players are doing very well now, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. The team definitely won’t do that. The coming week is crucial, with the next game against Fulham and subsequent fixtures. The final ranking depends on our own results. I know it sounds boring, but thinking too far ahead can backfire."

The Manchester United coach concluded, "We need to keep taking it one match at a time, one week at a time. I will definitely keep encouraging the team to do that, but the players must also seize the momentum, using the energy and confidence well. First, we must stay humble and understand how we earned these two important wins. Victories don’t come easily, so we need to maintain form, keep gaining experience, and apply it again."

Manchester United no longer has any cup commitments and can focus fully on the Premier League, which might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Carrick said, "Our focus has become very clear, and I’ve been emphasizing this since last week. Nothing will change now. With a good start, we just need to keep fighting."