Audacity is characterised by acting boldly while acknowledging constraints. It reflects courage and authenticity.
Wishful thinking, on the other hand, generates self-deception. It lives in denial because a certain belief, no matter how misplaced it is in the face of facts, is comforting.
Manchester United secured three points against Newcastle in December. While supporters celebrated, they knew fully well there was little to get carried away and assert Champions League qualification at the time.
What followed underpins their pragmatism, i.e., draws versus Wolves, Leeds, and Burnley, followed by a third-round exit from the FA Cup against Brighton.
Fast-forward one month, and United sit firmly in fourth place in the Premier League after comprehensive wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham Hotspur, alongside a hard-fought draw with West Ham.
A fantastic start for Michael Carrick that led to the charismatic interim head coach being voted the Premier League’s Manager of the Month.
The manner of the victories inspires optimism even among the most pragmatic of United fans to think about what really stops us from qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
And United fans know full well to keep their feet grounded, even as this new wave of optimism embraces them.
The Numbers: Remarkable and Outcome Focused
Carrick’s Reds have bagged 13 points out of 15 in their past five outings.
There have been impactful performances in all areas of the pitch, and timely substitutions have proven to be a catalyst for securing crucial points.
With 11 goals from five fixtures, United have scored three in two outings and kept clean sheets versus City and Spurs. While the attacking metrics versus Arsenal and Fulham favour the opponents, United clinched three points versus both London teams.
As for the Reds’ exemplary performance in the Manchester derby, no one saw that coming. Despite having only a third of the possession, United had seven shots on target to City’s one.
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in defence have been resolute, with Licha’s pass completion and accuracy being above 90 per cent.
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo has been remarkable, and the Stretford End cannot get enough of chanting Casemiro’s name.
Amad, Patrick Dorgu, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbuemo have all played integral roles in the build-up and attack.
Bruno Fernandes is relishing every moment of playing upfront and accomplished the landmark of 200 goal involvements for United during Carrick’s first five games in charge.
The numbers from these last five games also indicate the impact that Carrick and his coaching team have had during the second half of respective matches.
There is a perceptible acknowledgement of limitations, sustained intensity, and a desire to secure three points – there’s perceptible audacity.
The Backdrop of Carrick’s Arrival
Ruben Amorim’s departure and fans’ disappointment towards the club’s executives preceded Carrick’s arrival.
In retrospect, the manner of Amorim’s exit and his persistent exclusion of Mainoo are likely to be remembered among the lows of the former head coach’s tenure.
The embrace and affection in the spirited rendition of ‘He’ll bring the glory days again, we’ll back him from the Stretford End’ did not deserve the brash exit.
In that post-match presser at Elland Road, Ruben put himself ahead of the club. It was the antithesis of meaningful reciprocation of the backing extended by fans despite uninspiring results.
Overlay that withthe sidelining of Kobbie, which included playing a shaky Manuel Ugarte in his place, and it makes Amorim’s decisions all the more indefensible.
It will be unfair not to acknowledge that player recruitment during Amorim’s tenure was among the positives. Dorgu, Cunha, Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens have all had a good 2025-26 season thus far.
How Amorim navigated dressing room dynamics and filtered out players, no matter what their reputation, is also noteworthy.
Contractual limitations imply that Amorim’s side of the story regarding his exit will not be known in the foreseeable future. The aftermath of his exit witnessed the club’s executives endure scathing criticism.
Among the more polite descriptions of their planning and decision-making is the term amateurish.
Their indecisiveness about Erik Ten Hag’s tenure preceded the Dutchman’s eventual exit, the Dan Ashworth episode, and Ruben’s departure have unsurprisingly contributed to fans’ deep disappointment.
Supporters and critics remained glued in as the club’s hierarchy evaluated Amorim’s interim successor, an inexplicable deja vu.
The sum of parts meant that Carrick’s arrival was met with immense scepticism.
Interim might not imply stopgap
As much as Carrick and his coaching staff have been appointed as interim, the performances in the past five games suggest a possibility that their appointments might not be meant to serve as a stopgap.
The current coaching team of Carrick, Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion, and Jonny Evans are instead setting the bar for the next best alternative, if any.
Holland is known for elite tactical preparation, high-performance standards, and his association with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Gareth Southgate. He is a United fan and knows the demands of the Premier League intrinsically.
Jonathan Woodgate is an elite player-turned-coach. Known for his deep understanding of defensive setups, his recent association with Carrick at Middlesbrough is well documented.
Binnion represents the purposeful interface for channelling talent from United’s academy to the senior team.
Having been part of the dressing room under Ten Hag and Amorim, Evans knows the current squad very well. With Jonny and Michael, United also have among the best ambassadors of the club.
The sum of attributes of Carrick and his team of coaches points towards enabling collaborative player development, calm focus, intelligent structure, role clarity, and coordinated in-game transitions to win football matches.
Their collective knowledge and understanding of the pressures and dynamics of top-tier football in England is comprehensive and represents a significant step up from a deep disappointment.
If an alternative to the interim team of coaches were to materialise in the summer, it’ll be interesting to understand the differentiators.
Beyond Outcomes
There are more than just the outcomes in the last five matches that lend reason for positivity.
The opportunities, whether it is sharpening on missed chances or tightening against defensive lapses, are not missed among the fans.
They have also taken note of Carrick’s measured interactions during press conferences, his thoughtful in-game substitutions, the bonding with players, and the cohesiveness among players.
There is nothing to suggest that a manager’s or head coach’s job is now any less vulnerable to change. And it remains to be seen how Carrick and his team of coaches will steer this squad after a defeat or a draw.
All that being duly acknowledged, Michael Carrick has given reasons for Manchester United fans to dream of being audacious.
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