Michael Carrick's Vision for Manchester United's Return to the Summit

Michael Carrick knows exactly what the summit looks like. He spent a decade of his playing career living there. Now he is trying to drag Manchester United back up the mountain.

A five-time Premier League winner in his own right, the United manager is targeting another Champions League finish as the next step in a longer climb towards a first league title since 2013. He is under no illusions about the size of that task.

Carrick was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s last title-winning side. Thirteen years on from that triumph, he admits it would be "a jump" for this group to deliver a 21st championship this season, but he refuses to close the door on the idea.

He knows what the club wants. United are already eyeing 2028, their 150th anniversary, as a landmark year to be back on top of English football. Having taken over in difficult circumstances in January and guided the team to third, Carrick sees that as a platform, not a destination.

"We want to evolve as a team," he said ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime trip to promoted Hull. The word “evolve” matters here. This is not a short-term patch-up job in his mind; it is a gradual reshaping.

"We've got a lot of younger players in the group that we want to help move forward individually, which collectively will move us in a good direction."

The habit of winning, he believes, is already starting to take root.

"I think that, the experiences that they've had, the habit in getting used to feeling what it's like to win a number of games is huge," he explained. "It's huge for players at this club to feel it and know what it takes, first of all, and what you've got to put into it to get out the other end and, yeah, of course let's see what we can achieve."

The minimum target is clear.

"Yeah, we want to be finishing in the Champions League again without doubt. It's a challenge, it's a big challenge. There's a lot of teams fighting for that position and we managed to do that last season and we've got to aim to do the same and then keep pushing on through the season to see how it develops."

He wants a complete campaign, not a streaky one.

"We want to start strong, we want to get through the winter months and we want to be strong and we want to finish strong, so it's putting it all together and then see where we end up but we're going into it with a lot of encouragement."

If United are to turn that encouragement into something more tangible, their rebuilt midfield will have to carry the weight.

Casemiro, so influential in recent seasons, has gone. Manuel Ugarte is sidelined. That spine has been shaken, but not abandoned. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos have arrived to reinforce the centre of the pitch, and United are working to add Brighton’s Carlos Baleba to the mix.

Carrick, who spent his own career orchestrating games from midfield, is acutely aware of how much rests on that area.

"I think it gives you the foundation of the team," he said. For him, everything starts there.

"I think the foundation of the team is important to be consistent, to be consistent through one game from start to finish, to be consistent over a period of time. I think you need a solid foundation through the middle of the team and trying putting it together and getting that balance."

He has seen enough great sides, from inside United and across Europe, to know what they share.

"If you look at all the top teams over the years, all the great teams over the years, the spine of the team is really strong, so we're conscious of that and I think we've got a good spine of the team right now."

That does not mean the work is done.

"We can keep improving as we go in different ways and coaching and helping the boys and developing them, and I think we're in a good place."

Hull away is only the opening step of a long season. For Carrick, though, the real story is whether this version of United can turn a “good place” into the kind of ruthless, title-chasing machine he once anchored in midfield.