Michael Carrick has urged his Manchester United players to stay humble after a statement win at the Emirates capped a dream start to his reign.
United followed up a derby victory over Manchester City by beating Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Matheus Cunha firing a late winner to silence north London. Two wins from two against the league’s top two have catapulted United into fourth place with 15 games remaining — but Carrick is refusing to get swept up in the noise.
Speaking after the final whistle, the 44-year-old stressed that momentum only matters if it’s handled the right way. For Carrick, that means focusing inward — on habits, standards and togetherness — rather than what the results say to the rest of the division.
“It’s about the feeling it gives us as a group,” Carrick explained. “How it brings us together and lifts us in a positive way. There’s emotion and energy you can take from wins like this, but you’ve got to stay humble and understand how you earned them.”
The calm message cuts against the mood outside the dressing room. United supporters were chanting title talk as they poured out of the Emirates, yet Carrick barely blinked when told about it. His eyes were already on the next task — a reminder that early promise can disappear quickly without discipline.
Carrick’s impact has been immediate since stepping in, restoring clarity and confidence after a frustrating December run. The performances against City and Arsenal were organised, brave and ruthless at key moments — hallmarks of a side rediscovering belief. But the interim boss is adamant that belief must be channelled, not celebrated.
“We can’t look too far ahead,” he added. “Every next game is the biggest game. Looking forward too much can come back and bite you. We’ll finish where we finish by the results we get, so it’s about taking this week by week.”
That grounded approach has already resonated with the squad. Carrick has spoken about building good routines and reinforcing habits — details he believes underpin big results rather than follow them. In his view, the challenge now is to “bottle” the confidence without assuming it will show up on demand.
United have sent a message with two heavyweight wins. Carrick’s message back to his players is just as clear: enjoy the lift, learn the lessons — and get back to work.
