Carrick Dismisses 'Favourable Start' Ahead of United's Title Push

Michael Carrick is having none of it. Hull away, Ipswich at home – promoted clubs, yes, but in his mind they are anything but a soft launch to Manchester United’s season.

United open at Hull on Saturday before welcoming Ipswich to Old Trafford eight days later. On paper, some have called it kind. Carrick pushed back hard.

“For all of us to know this league, there’s no favourable start, I think it’s a tough start,” he said. “A promoted team away from home is a tough game.

“I’ve been involved in them in the past so I’m fully aware of what’s coming at us on Saturday, what we’ve got to be ready for. So it’s not favourable. It’s an easy thing to throw out there. But it’s pretty ridiculous in a certain way, [we are] not taking it that way at all.”

He has the scars to prove it. Newly promoted sides, full stadiums, early-season adrenaline – Carrick has seen big teams ambushed before. He is determined United will not stroll into the same trap.

From stabiliser to contender

Carrick walked into Old Trafford as a steadying hand in January, an interim solution who quickly became the long-term plan. He guided United to third place last season, earning the permanent job four months later on the strength of that surge.

Now the question is sharper: can that momentum carry United all the way to the title?

“It is going to be a jump,” the 45-year-old admitted. “I would never say we can’t – I don’t believe that. But it’s about what we are capable of doing as a group.

“The run of form we had last season gives us a lot of confidence, but we know there is a whole new step to make. We are pushing to do that. It’s exciting. We have the potential to achieve things and we will definitely give it everything we can. We have to believe we are a good team and can do good things.”

That belief, for Carrick, has to be backed by squad depth. The club are working to give him exactly that.

Transfer drive gathers pace

United are hopeful of landing Carlos Baleba from Brighton, with the club aiming to do a deal for less than £75m. The midfield remains a priority zone, but not the only one. Recruitment staff are also hunting a left-back before the window closes.

“We are looking to strengthen the squad, working towards that,” Carrick said. “We are trying to make the most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it and are in a good way to doing that so far.”

It is a clear message: last season’s revival is not enough. United want more legs in midfield, more balance on the flank, more options to cope with the grind of a title chase.

Early fitness concern

Not everything is in place. Mason Mount’s involvement at Hull is in doubt after he picked up a knock, leaving Carrick with an early selection headache.

The manager will not dress up the challenge. A hostile opening day, a promoted side desperate to prove they belong, a squad still being shaped and strengthened.

If United are serious about turning last season’s promise into a genuine title charge, this is exactly the sort of start they need to handle without excuses.