Manchester United have staged a remarkable turnaround in 2026, and now is no time to take their foot off the gas. After a nightmare first half of the season—including a humiliating EFL Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town and the sacking of manager Rúben Amorim—the Red Devils looked destined for mediocrity. But under interim boss Michael Carrick, the script has been completely flipped.
Carrick took over from Darren Fletcher, who had steadied the ship with a draw at Burnley and an FA Cup loss to Brighton. The former United midfielder wasted no time, snapping a four-game winless streak and winning six of their next seven matches. A narrow 2-1 defeat at Newcastle briefly stalled momentum, but United bounced back with a win over Aston Villa before hitting another rough patch against Bournemouth and Leeds United. Since then, however, they've rediscovered their best form.
A gritty 1-0 win at Chelsea set the tone, followed by a 2-1 victory over Brentford. Then came the thriller against Liverpool: United threw away a two-goal lead but snatched all three points thanks to Kobbie Mainoo's late winner against the defending champions. Mainoo himself has gone from zero to hero under Carrick, earning praise from pundits like Troy Townsend and making a strong case for a spot in Thomas Tuchel's FIFA World Cup squad.
That victory over Liverpool secured United's return to the UEFA Champions League, but Carrick's side can't afford to relax just yet. Their next match against Sunderland is a must-win. The Black Cats have had an impressive first season back in the Premier League after nine years away, sitting 12th and already safe from relegation. They even have an outside shot at sneaking into the European spots. But United have dominated this fixture, winning five of their last six meetings, including a 2-0 victory earlier this season courtesy of Benjamin Šeško and Mason Mount.
With United sitting third in the table, every point matters as they look to solidify their position and build on this incredible resurgence. Letting off the gas now would undo all the hard work—and Carrick knows it.