Michael Carrick's Era at Manchester United: Predictions for 2026-27

As Manchester United prepare to kick off the Michael Carrick era in full this weekend, some of the club’s most decorated alumni have already nailed their colours to the mast.

Hull City at the MKM Stadium is the first stop on Saturday lunchtime. The real debate has already started elsewhere.

Carrick’s United under the microscope

United surged to third in the Premier League last season, Carrick transforming an ailing side during a blistering interim spell before being handed the job permanently in May. That finish has reset expectations. It has also split opinion.

Five former United players – spanning title winners, a Champions League hero and a Ballon d’Or winner – have laid out where they think Carrick’s team will land in 2026-27. The answers range from optimistic to coldly sceptical.

Ben Foster: Same again, please

Ben Foster sees a repeat. The former United goalkeeper, who correctly backed a top-four finish for the club last season, has them staying in the pack but not at the front of it.

“All right. It’s Arsenal, then it’s Chelsea, then it’s Man United, then it’s Liverpool,” he said on the Fozcast podcast, laying out his predicted top four in order.

He doubled down on that sequence: “Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool. We will see come the end of the season, lads.”

For Foster, Carrick keeps United competitive, but the title still belongs elsewhere.

Nicky Butt: Backing Carrick to push higher

Nicky Butt is bolder. The former United midfielder believes Carrick’s side can climb one more rung and finish as runners-up.

Asked for his top four on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt replied: “Liverpool, City, Man United, Arsenal.”

He then clarified his thinking, suggesting the discussion on the show had broadly leaned towards Arsenal’s strength but insisting United would be right behind the eventual champions.

“So, I do think, obviously, we’re all agreeing with Arsenal [being top], but I think Man United will come second.”

The message from Butt is clear: United should not just be clinging to the top four; they should be chasing the title pace.

Paul Scholes: Progress, but doubts at the back

Paul Scholes, another pillar of the ‘Class of ’92’, doesn’t quite share Butt’s faith in a title push. He still sees United in the Champions League places – but only just inside the top three.

“United [in third place] for me,” he said on The Good, The Bad & The Football show.

Scholes’ concern is blunt and specific. “I still think they’ve got a lot of work to do to… I think they need to strengthen. Now, look, possibly they could do better, but I just don’t think the centre-halves are good enough.”

For Scholes, Carrick has the side moving, but the spine of the defence remains a ceiling on what this team can achieve.

Michael Owen: United on the outside

Michael Owen is the harshest judge of the lot. On the same show as Butt and Scholes, the former United and Liverpool striker pushed Carrick’s side out of the Champions League places entirely.

In his 2026-27 Premier League predictions, Owen has United finishing fifth. No top four. No step forward on last season’s third. A drop.

His verdict cuts against the optimism around Carrick’s impact and underlines how fragile United’s resurgence still looks to some outside Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney: Just enough for fourth

Wayne Rooney sits somewhere in the middle. United’s record goalscorer, now watching on as a pundit, has them in the top four – but only just.

In his BBC Sport predictions for the Premier League’s top four, Rooney backed United to end the 2026-27 campaign in fourth place.

It is a position that suggests respect for Carrick’s work and the squad’s talent, but also an acceptance that others might be stronger over 38 games.

Five former United players. Five different landing spots: second, third, third, fourth, fifth.

Carrick’s first full season starts at Hull, the questions already swirling: are United really back among the elite, or just passing through on the way up – or down?