Michael Carrick has rejected suggestions that Manchester United face a favourable opening to the Premier League season, describing the assessment as misguided despite his team's strong recent form.
The United manager won 12 of his 15 matches in charge during the latter stages of last season, a run that secured third place and earned him a permanent appointment. However, Carrick believes the challenge ahead should not be underestimated.
United travel to Hull City, the Championship play-off winners, on Saturday before hosting Ipswich Town—another newly promoted side—in their first home fixture on 30 August. Some observers have suggested this fixture list offers an opportunity for the club to build momentum early in the campaign.
Carrick firmly disputes this interpretation.
A newly promoted team away from home is a tough game. I've been involved in them in the past so I'm fully aware of what's coming at us on Saturday and what we've got to be ready for. It's not favourable. It's an easy thing to throw out there but it's pretty ridiculous. I'm not taking it that way at all.
The manager's caution reflects his experience of the unpredictability that newly promoted sides can present, particularly when playing in their home stadium with the backing of their supporters. Hull's achievement in winning the play-offs demonstrates their quality and resilience, while Ipswich similarly earned promotion through competitive performances in the Championship.
Carrick's appointment on a permanent basis followed an impressive interim period that demonstrated his tactical acumen and ability to galvanise the squad. His insistence that the opening fixtures demand serious preparation underscores his determination to maintain the standards established during his initial spell in charge.
The first 10 days of the season will provide an early indication of whether United can sustain the momentum that defined the end of last season. However, Carrick's perspective suggests he views these matches as genuine tests rather than opportunities for straightforward victories, setting realistic expectations for supporters and the wider football community.
