Michael Carrick can finally bury the ghost and do something no Man Utd manager has done since Sir Alex Ferguson

FOR Michael Carrick and Manchester United, it is time to bury the ghost. Maybe not to win the Premier League title again this season — that might prove too much of a stretch. But to end 13 years of being second best in their own city. Manchester United boss Michael Carrick can do something no one has done since Sir Alex Ferguson Credit: Alamy No Man Utd side has finished above rivals Manchester City since 2013 Credit: Getty Images – Getty What is incredible — given United’s domination of the first two decades of the Prem — is that Carrick, 45, was a key member of the last Red Devils side to finish ahead of Manchester City. As shock recruit Robin van Persie starred to give Sir Alex Ferguson his perfect farewell — regaining the crown ripped from his grasp by Sergio Aguero’s unforgettable intervention with the final goal of the previous campaign — United fans were prepared for a testing time. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! They won that 2013 title with four games to spare, finishing 11 points clear of City, but looked like a side running their final race. Change is often complicated. Time is the ultimate enemy of every football career. Nothing is set in stone. When you lose the greatest manager, whose reign was an iron rod of relentless focus, there was always going to be a reckoning. Nobody could have imagined that it would see the beginning of an era of City being the top dogs — by a distance the standout side who were to bag an astonishing 19 major trophies, including seven Prem titles. United have tried to match them, opting for the “Chosen One” in David Moyes — in fact, it was a hospital pass for the Scot — then a host of big names, a couple of up-and- comers from abroad and, in various caretaker and full-time roles, five Old Trafford “legends”. Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho were serial winners — course AND distance in the case of the “Special One”. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim were seen as the next generation; Ralf Rangnick a human bridging loan who was prepared to spell out some uncomfortable truths. The United knowledge of Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Carrick himself, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Darren Fletcher . . . none of them were able to do anything to close the gap, which became a chasm as Pep Guardiola took City to the commanding heights. But Guardiola is now gone. It is City who have to undergo the painful transition — the scale of which suddenly appeared more significant in Cardiff on Sunday. Of course, United manager Carrick has to answer the doubts, perhaps some within his own mind. Solskjaer, he will know, looked to have cracked it in his caretaker spell. Taking the reins full-time proved a far more challenging task, one that was beyond the Norwegian. Yet Carrick will be able to point to a settled approach — and one that has worked. Dispensing with Amorim’s flailing, failing back three, reverting to a system that suited the players at his disposal, Carrick got United to look like . . . well, like United. After the Geordie took charge with 17 games to go last term, the Red Devils picked up 39 points – more than any other side. That was three points ahead of champions Arsenal, while City earned 35 and Liverpool just 25. Translating that into a full campaign, when Carrick is responsible for anything that goes wrong rather than solely taking credit for the positives, is a different proposition. United need to sort out the left-back issue, require an extra midfield body and must manage the demands of the Champions League. At the same time, the physical and emotional toll of the varying World Cup experiences of Senne Lammens, Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Mateus Cunha and the potentially reintegrated Marcus Rashford will be new situations with which Carrick must juggle. The transfer splurge craved by supporters has not materialised. However, the captures of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, Rashford’s likely return to arms and retaining their attacking armoury — Fernandes, Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo and Benjamin Sesko scored 41 Premier League goals between them — give United a platform. The Old Trafford faithful, of course, crave a return to the summit. But ending that long wait to finish above City again would be a significant step. For United and Carrick. Potential balls-up I FEEL Premier League chiefs missed a trick not using the World Cup-style “connected ball” this season. Spain’s LaLiga, which also uses Puma footballs, kicked off last weekend with a chip in the match ball after linking up with Fifa’s partner Kinexon. But Prem chiefs are sticking with the same VAR set-up as last term, arguing that the extra cameras used for their semi-automated offside technology renders the chip redundant. It means that VARs will have to make calls on potential handballs by goalscorers, or faint touches that could determine offsides, based on incomplete evidence. Benjamin Sesko’s goal in Manchester United’s win over Liverpool last season was an example of a situation where the connected ball would have brought a conclusive verdict. Surely the best league in the world should use the best available kit. Bringing sexy track THE GOLDEN girls shone bright in Birmingham, with Amy Hunt leading the way at the European Championships. After too long in which British athletes seemed to have been ordered to be automatons when facing the media, Hunt, Georgia Hunter Bell, plus silver-winning Keely Hodgkinson, were among those whose honesty and willingness to engage was refreshing. Full houses for the last few days have boosted London’s claims to host the 2029 Worlds. Track and field is sexy again. Feels like a turning point MANCHESTER CITY fans who made the trip to Cardiff did not need a government text alert to see the warning signs facing Enzo Maresca’s side. Yet the sight of them turning their backs on the Community Shield was satisfying for Arsenal fans. A pre-season game means nothing in itself. But it could be a signpost. Parachutes fail to open SO much for a predictable Championship campaign — with none of the four “parachute” clubs winning their openers. Burnley, West Ham and Wolves all drew — admittedly two of them met at Turf Moor — while Southampton, still seemingly affected by Spygate repercussions, lost at Watford. Over the next nine months, the quartet do have a big advantage. But they have to earn it on the pitch. Ask Leicester. Step in the right direction CREDIT to Bournemouth for admitting they fumbled in their clumsy dismissals of long-standing match-day staff. It may not ease the anger of those let go, but conceding that employees “deserve to be treated with respect” and this “did not reflect the standards we expect of ourselves as a club” was a step in the right direction. Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Comment now