Man Utd must compete for trophies immediately under Carrick, says former defender Brown

Manchester United have to be in the conversation for major trophies in their first full season under Michael Carrick, believes his former team-mate Wes Brown.

Carrick took the reins at Old Trafford on a temporary basis following the departure of Ruben Amorim in January, when the Red Devils were sixth in the Premier League table.

And he landed the job on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign, winning a two-year contract by leading United to a third-placed finish.

Carrick has, across two interim stints as United's manager, won 13 of his 19 Premier League games at the helm (68%), drawing four and losing two.

His 68% win rate is the highest of any manager in United's Premier League history, ahead of Alex Ferguson's 65%, albeit the Scot's record was accumulated over an incredible 810 games (528 wins).

Other than Carrick and Ferguson, no manager has achieved a win rate better than 54% in charge of United in the Premier League, with Jose Mourinho managing that figure.

United have now gone 13 years without winning a league title since Ferguson's retirement, though, and their only trophies in the last nine years were won under Erik ten Hag – the EFL Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

But, with many of United's biggest rivals – including Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea – making changes in the dugout this off-season, Brown believes Carrick will be aiming to compete for silverware immediately.

Asked if he believed United could push for trophies next season, Brown told Stats Perform: "I think they have to, after how they finished and the way the Premier League finished. 

"I would have been more than happy at the beginning of the season just to get the Champions League, with how recent years have gone. 

"Let's start with where he [Carrick] got us this season – I don't think anybody would have thought that, even myself!

"Things were still not perfect, but he managed to get results. He managed to get the players playing. I think his standards will be higher than people expect. 

"We finished third this year, we're thinking, 'Okay, why can't we challenge?' We get some new players on board, and obviously, some players will leave. 

"But if we can keep that same mentality and obviously have longer with [any new players], I think they can improve. I think that will be the standard."

United are believed to be close to agreeing a deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who will replace fellow Brazilian Casemiro after he departed as a free agent.

And when asked where Carrick might look for further reinforcements, Brown touted England midfielders Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton as potential targets, while stressing a need for the club to add more depth.

The former defender, who won five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns with United, said: "For me, great teams, I always say look at the bench, okay? So, other than the XI that are playing, who's on the bench?

"The two teams I was in that won the Champions League, any of the bench players could have started, probably for most teams in the Premier League. 

"I think that's key. I think City have it, I think Arsenal have it. I still think we're a little bit short of that. 

"Ederson's a great player. There's also Anderson, who everyone looks at. There's Wharton. I do think that's probably our main position. I think Casemiro was outstanding last year. 

"Me personally, I like Premier League players in certain positions. Just because they know English football and know the other teams. But like you said, Ederson's a really good player."