Michael Carrick Praises United Spirit as Mainoo Inspires Win Over Liverpool

Carrick deflects permanent job talk after United Beat Liverpool

Kobbie Mainoo scored late as United came from behind to beat Liverpool, with Carrick earning praise from the midfielder.

United are 3rd after wins over Arsenal, City, Chelsea, and Liverpool under interim boss Michael Carrick...

Michael Carrick batted away more questions about taking the Manchester United job full-time, but admitted Sunday’s 3-2 win over Liverpool was a moment to savor. The result sent United back into the Champions League for the first time in two seasons.

Kobbie Mainoo netted late to secure the victory after Liverpool had fought back to cancel out early strikes from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

  

Mainoo, whose career has been rejuvenated under Carrick after falling out of favor with former boss Ruben Amorim, praised the interim manager.  

“All the confidence he ‌gives all the players, you want to follow him and fight for him ‌and die for him on the pitch,” Mainoo said.

You can see how much Kobbie's goal meant to everyone ❤️‍🔥

🤳 @Snapdragon x #ShotOnSnapdragon pic.twitter.com/4px1YARlOh

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 3, 2026

Under Carrick, United have climbed to third in the table on the back of a strong run that includes wins against Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and now Liverpool.

“It's been ‌a good run, we've obviously beat some very, very ⁠good teams, and it's been challenging,” Carrick ‌said. “Listen, I love doing what I'm doing, it's a great position for me to be, and it feels pretty natural, if I'm totally honest, without being blasé, because it's a difficult role.

“But I kind of understand what it brings, and to be sat in this position is a good position to be.”

Carrick said his main focus has been on getting the most out of the squad, “and giving ⁠them the opportunity to go and perform.”

“And then there's obviously the part of it today, seeing this place (Old Trafford) alive and bouncing at the end is a real joy and a pleasure to be in this position,” he added.

Carrick commended his players for the character and togetherness they showed.

“The pleasing thing to ‌see that camaraderie and looking after each other, it was tested at 2-2, and seeing where they're really sticking in and fighting for each other, that's what we want,” he said.

“We want a team to be proud of, and the boys have certainly gave us that.”

Asked if he will be disappointed if he is not given the permanent job next season, the caretaker manager said: “We'll have to wait and see, that's all we can do.

“I think when we came in, Champions League, to be honest, was a little bit in the distance, and we want to try ‌and get back into Europe,” he said. “So, to be where we are with three games to spare is a good achievement.”

But Carrick made clear the squad wasn’t getting comfortable or letting up.

“(Champions League) is a huge step, for so many reasons ... and there's a lot of satisfaction that comes with that,” he said. “But that can't be everything. We want more than that, we want to expect more of that and consistently.”

”European games have a beauty all of their own." – Sir Matt Busby ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fMtRZYPzr0

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 3, 2026

“And that's kind of the message really of: let's ⁠try and push on and keep improving. ⁠It's not just to sit ‌back and think, 'that was all right. That was good. We've achieved something'.”