Manchester United have undergone a stunning transformation under interim manager Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils have won an incredible 10 of their 14 matches since Carrick stepped into the dugout.
Few could have imagined such a dramatic revival after the turbulent 14-month spell overseen by former manager Ruben Amorim.
As unbelievable as it may sound, United could genuinely have been in the Premier League title race had Carrick been appointed from the beginning of the campaign.
If the table were calculated from the moment the 44-year-old took charge, United would sit proudly at the summit with a commanding five-point lead over Arsenal.
The Red Devils have accumulated an impressive 32 points during that period, while Arsenal and Manchester City trail behind on 27 points.
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Manchester United
14
10
2
2
27
16
+11
32
Arsenal
14
8
3
3
26
11
+15
27
Manchester City
14
8
3
3
24
13
+11
27
This is by no means intended as criticism of either rival side.
Mikel Arteta finally appears on course to reward Arsenal’s long-term project with a league title after City dropped points against Everton last weekend.
It has been a chaotic and unpredictable season in which no single side has managed to seize complete control.
Carrick has done a remarkable job and may have helped United finish even higher if INEOS had not waited until January to say goodbye to Amorim.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the senior members of the club have a big managerial decision to make in the coming weeks.
Carrick has made a compelling case to be appointed permanently, particularly with elite alternatives such as Luis Enrique and Carlo Ancelotti seemingly unavailable.
The biggest question now is whether the former United midfielder can carry this same momentum and inspiration into next season.
That is a question nobody can answer with certainty.
Football has always been a sport built on bold and calculated risks.
Given the remarkable turnaround he has engineered, appointing Carrick ahead of more conventional options increasingly feels like the smartest and most logical route forward.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
