Carrick has the Ferguson magic, says Cunha
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha feels interim boss Michael Carrick has the "magic" that can reconnect the club to its trophy-laden Sir Alex Ferguson era. Cunha scored the opening goal at Old Trafford that set United on their way to the 3-2 win over Liverpool that ensured Champions League qualification with three games to spare. It is an achievement few felt United were capable of, even though football director Jason Wilcox said a return to Europe's elite club competition was the aim in the wake of Ruben Amorim's dismissal in January.
Carrick has engineered 10 victories in his 14 games in charge, putting him in pole position to be appointed on a full-time basis. The 44-year-old was part of the final great United side under Ferguson, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League. "How he teaches everyone is amazing.
He has the magic with these Ferguson times. Then he comes and brings it to us, teaches us how it was, to be part of everything. Then he did this.
"It's amazing. He's a pleasure. Of course, I think he deserves it.
" Carrick has already made it clear his squad cannot relax just because they have achieved their mission. They still require four points to be certain of securing a top-three finish for only the fifth time since Ferguson retired in 2013. They could also finish fewer than 12 points behind the eventual champions, which is the closest they have got post-Ferguson, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020-21.