Michael Carrick has done something remarkable at Manchester United—and it’s time the club stopped waiting and made the decision permanent. After guiding the Red Devils back into the Champions League with a gritty 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford, the question on every fan’s mind is clear: what more does he have to prove?

Kobbie Mainoo summed it up best when he said, “You want to follow him. You want to fight for him. You want to die for him on the pitch. We showed that today.” Those aren’t just post-match clichés—they’re the words of a 21-year-old academy product who was on the verge of being shipped out on loan to Napoli last summer. Fast forward a few months, and Mainoo is scoring a 77th-minute winner against Liverpool, fresh off signing a new long-term contract. It’s the kind of turnaround that defines a manager who truly believes in his players.

Under Carrick, United have rediscovered their identity. He’s restored Bruno Fernandes to his favorite role, brought belief back to a squad that was struggling, and secured statement wins over City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and now Liverpool—completing the first league double over their old rivals since 2015-16. That’s not just a hot streak; that’s a manager building momentum.

When asked about his future, Carrick kept his cards close to his chest. “Whatever is going to happen is going to happen,” he said. But he also let a little more slip than usual: “I love doing what I am doing. It feels pretty natural. To be sat in this position is a good position to be in.”

Unless the club has Luis Enrique waiting in the wings, it’s hard to see an acceptable alternative to giving Carrick the job full-time. He’s taken a team that couldn’t find its footing and turned them into Champions League contenders. For a club that prides itself on homegrown talent and fighting spirit, Carrick embodies everything United should stand for. The question is: what are they waiting for?