Michael Carrick has expressed conviction that Manchester United's squad has grown stronger following their summer transfer activity, even as questions linger over the club's failure to bolster their backline.
The Red Devils pursued a midfield-focused recruitment strategy during the window, bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow arrived on a free transfer from Leeds United to complete the summer's major additions.
Manchester United's overall net expenditure reached £118m across the transfer window, a figure that fell short of newly promoted sides Ipswich and Coventry. Pundit Gary Neville had publicly insisted the club needed to strengthen their defensive ranks before the window closed, a call that went unheeded.
Yet Carrick remains upbeat about his squad's readiness for the campaign ahead. Having been confirmed as permanent head coach in May 2026 on a contract through 2028, the former midfielder has already overseen a notable turnaround at Old Trafford.
Speaking at a charity golf day for his foundation, Carrick outlined his reasoning for backing the summer's business.
I think we've brought some really good players into the football club, and improved the squad in different ways, individually but collectively,he said.
I think we've grown. You go into the window and when you come out of it, you want to be stronger than you were at the start. I'm convinced we are that.
The manager acknowledged the complexity of modern transfer markets and the financial pressures facing Premier League clubs.
Transfer windows are never straightforward and this window in particular has been challenging for different reasons. There's a lot of money being spent in and around the league itself, and I think we've made the most of the situation that we've found ourselves in.
That's the world we live in. Teams at certain points are going to spend a lot of money. Sometimes it's going to be more than what we spend, sometimes maybe not. We've got to make the most of what we can and understand where we're at. I think we're a very good team, we want to keep getting better.
However, Carrick indicated in mid-August that United still "need" more signings before the transfer deadline, suggesting his confidence in the current squad does not preclude further additions before the window shuts. Reports from 13 August 2026 indicated United had spent approximately £85m on Santos, Tielemans and Darlow, with Carrick pushing for further reinforcements.
Ipswich response showed squad character
Carrick's opening weeks in charge could hardly have begun worse. His side suffered a humiliating defeat to newly promoted Hull City on the opening weekend, a result that threatened to undermine confidence in the new regime.
The response, however, proved emphatic. United recovered to deliver a commanding 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town in their first home fixture, a performance that Carrick believes revealed important truths about his group's mentality and resilience.
Since I came back really and we got the group together, we've lost a couple of games, we've had some setbacks, but the way the boys have dealt with it gives us a lot of courage moving forward,Carrick reflected.
At some point you're going to have things that go against you. Whether that's a game or a moment in games, and I've talked about it this week. I think the response that we showed and the confidence the boys had, that's when you find out quite a bit about what you are as a group.
He praised the team's first-half display and their ability to recover from a difficult spell.
I thought we did a lot of good things in the first half. We had a few minutes when it didn't go well for us, we took that into the second half and played some really good football.
A lot of people talk about the goals and the results in the end, but I think the mentality is what pleased us the most. It gives us a lot of encouragement moving forward.
Bruno Fernandes sets the standard
While several United players impressed against Ipswich, the standout narrative centred on captain Bruno Fernandes, whose performance transcended the scoreline. The PFA Player of the Year marked his campaign with a hat-trick—his third for the club—and provided a further assist for Bryan Mbeumo's goal.
Fernandes' display prompted Gary Neville to declare him the club's finest acquisition since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, a claim that underscores his importance to United's project under Carrick.
The manager found himself searching for adequate words to capture Fernandes' contribution.
I've spoken an awful lot about Bruno, and I think it just shows what he can do,Carrick said.
I think how important he is for us, and the impact that he has. He's done it over such a long period of time and since we've started working together again, I think he's been nothing but positive all the way through.
Carrick emphasised that Fernandes' excellence extends beyond match days into the training ground and dressing room.
He's set the example every day. He trains well, his attitude is spot-on, he's desperate to win, he's desperate to do well, and then he puts in performances like that.
The manager was careful to credit the broader squad contribution, noting that Fernandes himself recognises football as a collective endeavour.
Bruno is the first to admit it's a team game and I thought there were other individuals in the team that had a fantastic afternoon.
Bruno gets the headlines, and I understand why. Rightly so, because the quality of his moments was pretty special at the weekend. I'm definitely sure there will be more of them as the season goes on.
Looking ahead
Carrick's appointment as permanent manager followed a revival that gave the club "a sense of direction" after his interim spell. His first full campaign in charge represents a critical test of whether United can sustain their upward trajectory and challenge for major honours.
The club faces a 1 September 2026 transfer deadline, by which point Carrick has already signalled his desire for additional business. United's next fixture sees them travel to face Everton, with the match scheduled for Super Sunday from 1pm, kick-off at 2pm.
