Now that another Premier League chapter is in the history books, the real work begins for an Ineos-led sporting department.
Champions League qualification, as superb as that is, is one thing, but ensuring that Michael Carrick can take his Manchester United side to the next level is an entirely different proposition.
Reflections on yet another tumultuous campaign will provide a mix of emotions and varying degrees of scrutiny upon Jim Ratcliffe, and rightfully so.
While nobody can disregard the league’s year-on-year improvement, it is another calendar in which the Reds have waved goodbye to a tactician with a multi-million-pound severance package.
It goes without saying that Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox talk a good talk and have ambitious goals for their Project 150.
And while it may not have been included in the club’s official statement, Carrick’s new contract, which is set to run until the end of the 2027–28 season, means he is the individual entrusted with delivering on this.
The 44-year-old head coach has plenty of naysayers, and even those who applaud him seem to refuse to acknowledge his ability to lead a United side to silverware.
Many choose to run with a line about how he will steady the ship so the next man can guide the club to success. Nonetheless, that theory does not support the club’s aim of winning a 21st title in two seasons.
So, therein lies the fundamental requirement for Ineos to deliver this summer, and seal a transfer window that not only reinforces the squad but also convinces the world of their ability to return United to the head of the table.
But how did we get here, and what can we expect over the coming months?
Another season of ups and downs for Manchester United ends with an unlikely return to Europe
Exactly one year ago today, Christian Eriksen’s 87th-minute penalty sealed a 2-0 win for Ruben Amorim’s men against Aston Villa on the final day of a horrific campaign.
It was a first victory in nine outings, inevitably leading to a 15th-place Premier League finish after 18 defeats from 38 fixtures.
Following the final whistle and the perennial sendoff at Old Trafford, Amorim promised those in attendance that the good days were coming. He departed only 225 days later.
Although the football was far from what the Stretford End desired, his side was in contention for a Champions League spot. Still, they were as many points off fourth place as they were ahead of 12th (three points).
Darren Fletcher assumed control for a little over a week and oversaw a 2-2 draw with Burnley before exiting the FA Cup at the third round against Brighton four days later.
It’s safe to say that many felt Ratcliffe’s assembly were as close to a best-in-class configuration as the man on the moon, and supporters were left scratching their heads with the prospect of another season of capitulation.
Enter Carrick, and what many deemed to be an assured appointment to prepare this squad for a continental chief to arrive in June.
However, what we witnessed was a calm, unassuming character who seemed unfazed by the daily scrutiny he faced in the Manchester hot seat.
Despite what the likes of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville or Roy Keane would dish out across social media, United’s former midfielder was focused on winning. And alongside Steve Holland, he did just that.
Victories against Manchester City and Arsenal in his opening two tests set the platform for a run of six wins from seven, with the sole blemish a 1-1 draw away to West Ham in February.
Although defeats to Newcastle (March) and Leeds (April) opened the door for scrutiny, the Wallsend man oversaw 12 wins, three draws and only two losses from his 17 outings, sealing a third-place finish with a 70.6% win ratio.
Say what you will about his Premier credentials, but he was the standout tactician in the league throughout this period with a squad designed to play an entirely different structure.
It’s also worth noting that he recognised the importance of freeing Bruno Fernandes along the way, and played a role in the Portuguese star achieving his record-breaking assist haul (21).
Like so much of his decorated playing career, Carrick knew that utilising fundamentals would be critical to this group’s success, and that has sealed Champions League qualification.
Still, now is not the time to rest on laurels. The baton has been passed to Berrada and Wilcox to work in unison with Christopher Vivell in delivering on their many promises this summer.
A Casemiro-shaped hole needs immediate filling, and the suitability of the likes of Manuel Ugarte needs to be addressed if these public aspirations are indeed genuine.
As we have reported for months, interest in the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Carlos Baleba is real, as are the recent links with Atalanta’s Ederson.
Despite what some would have you believe, all three would go a long way towards building structure alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno and Mason Mount.
Elliot Anderson is, as Joe Pesci once put it, the silver tuna, but Evangelos Marinakis is far from a considerate businessman when it comes to contemplating United’s requests.
Then there are players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Sandro Tonali who offer significant quality and the prospect of intent. While Premier League names like Alex Scott are also under consideration.
What’s evident is that this team will require at least two of the above, if not three, to possess the tools to compete across multiple fronts next season. And that is just the midfield we have covered.
If Carrick is to succeed, his boardroom must succeed. Then, and only then, will we have a categorical idea of the title-contending qualities of this coaching team. What we have seen to date has merited just that.
Continue to disregard what you see; that is your entitlement. But if you have any desire to see this football team compete once more, now is the time to support.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels. Photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
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