Michael Carrick warned Manchester United not to ‘over-celebrate’ a return to the Champions League – insisting the club must have ambitions to challenge for the top titles in the coming years.
Monday night’s 2-1 win over Brentford, made much nervier than it should have been when Mathias Jensen scored for the visitors in the 87th minute, means Carrick and his players are now two points away from guaranteeing a return to the Champions League.
Goals from Casemiro, his ninth of the season, and Benjamin Sesko, were enough for a key home win that strengthened United’s hold on third place.
But Carrick does not want to over-indulge his players as they close in on a return to Europe’s elite club competition.
‘We have given ourselves a great chance [of making it],’ Carrick said.
‘These last two results have been big for that. It is a tough league. To have the amount of wins we have had, especially after the setback, the Newcastle defeat, to bounce back with [Aston] Villa, the Leeds defeat, to bounce back again, the lads have to take credit for that.
Michael Carrick warned his Manchester United side to not get carried away by qualifying for the Champions League
United’s 2-1 win over Brentford almost guarantees their spot in next season’s competition
‘The Champions League is one thing but it’s not something that we should be over-celebrating either. We want to be challenging higher up the league and get more points. Our season doesn’t get to a close when [Champions League qualification] happens.
‘It is one thing, we need to try and achieve it but there is still more work to be done.’
While Manchester United started in Carrick’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system, they adapted and switched at half-time to a back three system that was synonymous with his predecessor Ruben Amorim.
‘We had to see a few sides tonight,’ Carrick added. ‘Credit to Keith [Andrews] and his staff, they are a good team and tough to play against.
‘We started fantastically, looked really dangerous, could have had an extra goal or two. We tweaked a couple of things at half-time and then the game wasn’t as open.
‘It is a big three points. It’s that time of the season where the results are crucial. It’s an important one.’
Brentford came here fearless, determined to go and attack United and that was what pleased Andrews most, aside from his overall disappointment at the defeat.
‘I love the way we attack and go for teams,’ the Brentford boss said.
‘I don’t want us to take a step back. We got a bit carried away with too many players ahead of the ball and United can hurt you on transition, they are deadly on that. It is a tough one to take.’
