Carrick plays down future talk after Man United secure third-place finish

By Lori Ewing and Martyn Herman

Michael Carrick steered Manchester United to a third-place Premier League finish after a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday but the interim boss played down talks about his future, saying clarity on his role would come “in a few days.”

With the club expected to confirm Carrick as permanent manager imminently, the 44-year-old said the immediate priority on Sunday had been securing the result and rounding off a resurgent campaign on a high at Old Trafford.

“Over the coming days, there’ll be clarity in the situation,” Carrick said, when asked yet again about his job status.

“I think it was a case that today was important about the game and getting the right result, and some individuals as well shining today, so whatever the news is going to be, I’m sure you’ll get clarity in a few days.”

Appointed on an interim basis in January, Carrick has overseen a steady climb up the table, culminating in Champions League qualification, and he framed the season as a significant achievement given United’s starting point.

“We were really conscious of trying to finish on a bit of a high, we’ve made some really good strides as a team and as a club,” he said.

“It’s easy to get to this stage and, being part of it myself, that extra spark’s not there, so I think to finish like we did for so many reasons was a good day for us.”

Sunday’s game also provided individual milestones, with Bruno Fernandes equalling the Premier League assist record with his 20th. Carrick praised the Portugal midfielder’s team-first mentality.

“Today the way he did it was a really nice moment for everybody. Credit to him for that because it’s not easy, but he always puts himself behind the team and the team first.

“Today was another one of those days, even though he’s going to get the praise because it is a fantastic achievement.”

Carrick acknowledged that closing the gap to the very top will demand further evolution, both in terms of personnel and development within the squad.

“I do genuinely think it was a really fantastic achievement to be where we are at the moment,” he said. “(But) the closer you get to the top of the league, the harder it gets, and you’ve got to make big steps, but it’s harder to make them big steps.

“So, certainly evolving the group is one thing. And that’s no negative on the group as it is now. You just want to keep pushing forward. We’ve got a really good group of players that you want to keep trying to improve and get better.

“We just want to keep moving forward. That’s the only thing, and there’s not a magic ingredient to doing that. It’s hard work, bit of brains and a bit of intelligence, and good players as well.”

Carrick also backed Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and the injury-plagued Luke Shaw — who scored his first goal in more than three years on Sunday — to earn England call-ups for the World Cup.

England manager Thomas Tuchel will announce his squad on Friday at Wembley.

“I haven’t got much sway in the matter at all, but I certainly think so,” he said. “Between them, all three of them have done their chances no harm recently for sure.”

Sunday’s results left West Ham United perilously close to relegation after a bruising 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United, a result that leaves their survival hopes hanging by a thread.

Newcastle’s William Osula struck twice and Nick Woltemade also scored, condemning West Ham to remain in 18th place on 36 points, two behind Tottenham Hotspur, who have a game in hand and can relegate the Hammers with a win over Chelsea on Tuesday.

The Hammers must now wait on Chelsea’s clash with Spurs, hoping for a lifeline ahead of their final-day meeting with Leeds United next Sunday.

At Old Trafford, Fernandes equalled the EPL record for goal assists in a single season and Casemiro received a standing ovation in his last home appearance for the club.

While in the battle for European places, Brighton and Hove Albion lost 1-0 at Leeds United and Everton lost 3-1 at home to Sunderland.

With a return to the Champions League already in the bag and Carrick expected to be named as permanent manager, it was a day of celebration for United, who signed off at home with victory.

Fernandes set up the third goal for Bryan Mbeumo — his 20th assist of the season — as a resurgent United confirmed they will finish the season in third place.

United’s Portuguese talisman will break the record he now shares with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne if he makes an assist in United’s final game of the season at Brighton and Hove Albion next weekend.

Luke Shaw opened the scoring for United against Forest in the fifth minute. Forest’s Morato levelled in the 53rd but Matheus Cunha restored United’s lead two minutes later with an effort that stood after a lengthy VAR check for a possible Mbeumo handball in the build-up.

Mbeumo then produced a composed finish from Fernandes’s cross before Morgan Gibbs-White pulled one back for Forest.

The game marked a fond farewell for Casemiro after four seasons and the fans gave the Brazil midfielder a rousing reception when he was subbed off in the 80th minute.