Paul Pogba believes Manchester United must show they belong among Europe’s elite again when the club returns to the Champions League next season, arguing that qualification alone is not enough after Michael Carrick’s strong spell in charge transformed the Premier League campaign.

Pogba welcomed United’s progress but stressed the need to back it up against Europe’s best teams. The midfielder, speaking to ESPN, praised the impact made by Carrick in the dressing room and on the pitch, saying the change in manager had clearly lifted the squad.

He told ESPN: “It was good for [Carrick], very good for him and the players. They felt another energy, and that was good for them; that’s what they needed. They’re back in the Champions League next season, and now they’re going to have to prove themselves, but for sure it was a good season for them to get back to where Manchester United belong.”

United secured third place in the 2025-26 Premier League, ending several seasons outside UEFA’s main club tournament. That league finish confirmed a place in the Champions League group stage, which Pogba views as a return to the minimum level expected of a club with United’s history and resources.

Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January and quickly lifted results. Across 17 Premier League matches, Carrick’s side earned 12 wins, three draws and two defeats. That produced a 70.6% win rate, while no other team in the division collected more than United’s 39 points during that period.

From Carrick’s first match, a 2-1 Manchester derby victory on 17 January, United matched high performance levels every week. Carrick posted a 2.29 points-per-game figure in the 2025-26 league season, the best in the Premier League that campaign and United’s highest since Alex Ferguson’s 2.34 in 2012-13.

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Pogba’s own situation has been very different. After leaving Manchester United for Juventus in 2022, Pogba featured rarely for Monaco during 2025-26, managing only six appearances in all competitions. The midfielder started once and played a total of 115 minutes, while recovering form and fitness remained a challenge.

United will also meet Milan in August during the final pre-season fixture, as confirmed on social media. With Champions League football ahead, the friendly schedule and Carrick’s impressive domestic record underline how expectations are rising again at Old Trafford, matching Pogba’s view that another step is now required.