Scholes' Insights on Manchester United Under Carrick

Paul Scholes likes what he sees from Manchester United under Michael Carrick. He just doesn’t think they’re ready to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal for the Premier League title. Not yet.

United’s season flipped on its head when Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January. A team drifting towards missing out on the Champions League – and maybe European football altogether – suddenly found a structure, a calmness and, crucially, results.

They surged to third, finishing only seven points behind Manchester City. For a club that looked lost midway through the campaign, it felt like a reset. It also fuelled a new question around Old Trafford: could Carrick launch a serious title challenge in his first full season in the job?

Scholes doesn’t think so.

Scholes impressed by Carrick – but issues remain

Speaking on The Overlap, the former United midfielder traced the revival back to Carrick himself.

“I think it comes from Michael Carrick’s character. He’s just a calm and relaxed character, he won’t ever get too high or too low,” Scholes said, pointing to the steady presence in the dugout that has soothed a previously volatile dressing room.

The optimism around Old Trafford has been matched by a busy recruitment drive, but Scholes cut through the excitement with a blunt question: what are United actually trying to be this season?

“Where you have to judge United’s transfer business is what do you expect from them? Are you expecting them to challenge for the Premier League? I still think that’s a little bit away with the business that’s been done.”

For Scholes, United’s rebuild has come in stages. The attack, he feels, has largely been addressed.

“This time last year they seemed to sort out the forward line which is now much better and much more dangerous,” he said.

Even there, he sees a gap. Benjamin Sesko, talented and improving, still needs help.

“They could probably still do with another centre forward to help [Benjamin] Sesko out a bit. He’s still young and he did get better last season, there’s no doubt about that.”

The spine Scholes doesn’t trust

If the forward line offers encouragement, the middle of the pitch still sets off alarms for Scholes.

“It feels like the priority this summer has been the middle of the pitch and that area was a problem last season,” he said. “I still think it’s a problem, not just from centre midfield but centre half as well because every team that had joy against us, it felt like they were coming straight down the middle because of the lack of pace and mobility in there.”

Andrey Santos has arrived, but Scholes is not rushing to any conclusions.

“I’ve hardly seen [Andrey] Santos play so you need to give the lad a chance but I still think there might need something else in there.”

Youri Tielemans brings control and class, yet Scholes again circles back to the same theme.

“[Youri] Tielemans is a brilliant footballer and can control the game but again athleticism isn’t his strength. I still think there’s a problem down the middle, I still think they need centre-halves.”

That’s where his judgement on United’s title credentials bites hardest. Not in the flair positions. In the reliability zone.

“I don’t think the current ones are of the quality to try and win the Premier League and that‘s where I judge Man United,” he said of the centre-backs. “In that position you need players who are reliable every single week but United’s are always picking up injuries.”

He ran through the concerns. Harry Maguire “starting to pick up niggles”. Lisandro Martinez “just can’t stay fit”. Leny Yoro, highly rated but, in Scholes’ eyes, not yet ready for the level United need.

“Leny Yoro has struggled a bit over the last two years and it looks like the level is a little bit above him, although he’s still young and he might come on with Ayden Heaven.”

The conclusion is stark: the spine still doesn’t convince him.

“So I still think a big area of the pitch is that spine to make the side more solid and give them more legs and have more reliability at centre half.”

A new challenge for Carrick

Last season, Carrick’s United had one major advantage: time between games. No midweek European fixtures. No constant churn of travel and rotation. Scholes thinks that matters.

“The thing Michael Carrick is going to have to deal with now as well is midweek football. He had an unbelievable run last year but everything was in his favour if you know what I mean.

“Now all of a sudden he’s got these extra games which will have an impact on the squad.”

The schedule tightens, the pressure rises, and the depth of the squad will be exposed in a way it simply wasn’t last season.

Scholes still believes Carrick has the ability to take United all the way. Just not in the coming campaign.

“I think Michael Carrick can win the Premier League with Manchester United but it won’t be this season. But if he can build the right team he can do that.”

Arsenal set the standard

All of this comes against the backdrop of an Arsenal side that have just put down a marker of their own.

Mikel Arteta’s team ended a 22-year wait for a league title last season, lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004 and reaching the Champions League final, where they lost to PSG on penalties.

They have not stood still. Another sharp transfer window, more depth, more aggression. On Sunday, they dismantled Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, a reminder of the gap United still have to close.

Arsenal open their title defence on Friday night against Coventry City. Manchester United follow at the weekend, starting their 2026-27 Premier League campaign at home to newly-promoted Hull City.

Carrick has given United back their direction. The question now is whether this season is about a title race, or about building the kind of ruthless, reliable spine Scholes insists they still lack.