Michael Carrick continues to shape Manchester United’s long-term plans for the 2026-27 season, even though the club has not confirmed whether Carrick will stay as head coach. The interim boss is already involved in squad decisions and strategic talks, while results on the pitch keep strengthening Carrick’s case as United push towards Champions League qualification.

United sit third in the Premier League before facing long-standing rivals Leeds United on Monday, with Champions League prospects now clearer. The Opta supercomputer gives United a 95.3% chance of finishing in the top five, and that position is now guaranteed to secure a Champions League place, easing some pressure around the run-in.

Carrick welcomed the new qualification route but stressed United’s focus remains on climbing as high as possible. Carrick said: “It’s great. It’s where we want to be, first and foremost, not so much for the other teams, but it is important. The more opportunities we have for that, the better.”

Carrick also underlined that United’s ambitions go beyond simply securing Champions League football. Carrick added: “We would obviously like to finish as high up the league as we possibly can, and to have so many English teams involved in that competition, pushing, it then benefits other teams in the league. But overall, we get quite selfish when it comes to things like that. It is where we want to be for ourselves, more than anything.”

While Carrick’s own future remains unresolved, the interim head coach is already influencing key off-field calls. Carrick was involved in the discussions that led to Harry Maguire signing a new one-year contract earlier this week. That role in negotiations underlines how United see Carrick as part of the wider planning process, at least in the short term.

Carrick explained that his responsibilities naturally extend beyond matchdays. Carrick said: “Certainly, in the role I’m in, there are decisions that need taking care of. I said it as soon as I came here; I’m part of that, and whatever that looks like moving forward, I’m part of it. I’m trying to improve things and make things better all the time.”

Manchester United form under Michael Carrick in Premier League

On the pitch, Carrick’s second interim spell has produced one of the strongest runs in the division. Since taking charge on January 13, following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, United have played 10 Premier League games. They have won seven, drawn two and lost once in that period, gathering more points than any other side.

United’s return of 23 points from those 10 league matches places them top of the form table in that spell. The impact has been described as a major turning point for the club’s season, as performances and results have lifted United firmly into the race for Champions League qualification after a difficult first half of the campaign.

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Carrick said those improvements are linked to an ongoing dialogue within the club about direction and future decisions. Carrick stated: “Certainly, there’s conversations about different directions and different things that I’m part of. And I think it should be that way anyway, because things need to be done. So I’m here to take care of that.”

That approach has been welcomed at Old Trafford, where the extra Champions League spots for English teams are seen as useful, but not a target in themselves. United want to secure their own position through consistency rather than relying on other clubs’ success in Europe, with Carrick’s influence central to that push.

As United prepare to meet Leeds United under the lights, Carrick remains both central to immediate tactics and deeply involved in longer-term planning. The club has yet to confirm whether Carrick will keep the job beyond this season, but current form, contract input and strategic involvement ensure Carrick’s influence on Manchester United is already significant for 2026-27 and beyond.