Paul Scholes Discusses Manchester United's Revival Under Carrick

Paul Scholes has welcomed Manchester United’s revival under Michael Carrick – but he is adamant his old club are not yet ready to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal for the Premier League crown.

United’s season was drifting towards disaster before Carrick stepped in for Ruben Amorim in January. Champions League hopes were fading, European football of any kind was under threat, and the mood around Old Trafford was flat.

Carrick changed that.

He steadied the dressing room, sharpened United’s attacking play and dragged them up to third, finishing just seven points behind neighbours Manchester City. That surge has fuelled talk that Carrick, in his first full season, could launch a serious title tilt.

Scholes is not buying that. Not yet.

Scholes impressed by Carrick – but issues down the spine

Speaking on The Overlap, the 11-time Premier League winner pinned United’s resurgence firmly on Carrick’s personality.

“I think it comes from Michael Carrick’s character. He’s just a calm and relaxed character, he won’t ever get too high or too low,” Scholes said, highlighting the composure that has filtered onto the pitch.

But when he turns to recruitment, the tone shifts.

“Where you have to judge United’s transfer business is what do you expect from them? Are you expecting them to challenge for the Premier League? I still think that’s a little bit away with the business that’s been done.”

United, in his eyes, are rebuilding in stages. The forward line was the first major project.

“I think on the recruitment point of view, they seem to be doing it in different sections. This time last year they seemed to sort out the forward line which is now much better and much more dangerous,” he said.

Even there, he sees a gap.

“They could probably still do with another centre forward to help [Benjamin] Sesko out a bit. He’s still young and he did get better last season, there’s no doubt about that.”

This summer, the focus has shifted.

“It feels like the priority this summer has been the middle of the pitch and that area was a problem last season,” Scholes said. The problem, in his view, has not gone away.

“I still think it’s a problem, not just from centre midfield but centre half as well because every team that had joy against us, it felt like they were coming straight down the middle because of the lack of pace and mobility in there.”

Midfield doubts and centre-back concerns

United have moved for Andrey Santos, but Scholes is not ready to make bold predictions on the Brazilian.

“I’ve hardly seen [Andrey] Santos play so you need to give the lad a chance but I still think there might need something else in there.”

He is more definitive on Youri Tielemans.

“[Youri] Tielemans is a brilliant footballer and can control the game but again athleticism isn’t his strength. I still think there’s a problem down the middle, I still think they need centre-halves.”

That, for Scholes, is where any title conversation starts – and where United currently fall short.

“I don’t think the current ones are of the quality to try and win the Premier League and that‘s where I judge Man United,” he said.

“In that position you need players who are reliable every single week but United’s are always picking up injuries.

“We’ve got [Harry] Maguire who’s starting to pick up niggles, Lisandro Martinez just can’t stay fit, Leny Yoro has struggled a bit over the last two years and it looks like the level is a little bit above him, although he’s still young and he might come on with Ayden Heaven.

“So I still think a big area of the pitch is that spine to make the side more solid and give them more legs and have more reliability at centre half.”

Carrick’s next test: juggling midweek football

United’s storming second half of last season came without the burden of European football. No midweek grind. No constant rotation. Scholes thinks that advantage has gone.

“The thing Michael Carrick is going to have to deal with now as well is midweek football. He had an unbelievable run last year but everything was in his favour if you know what I mean.

“Now all of a sudden he’s got these extra games which will have an impact on the squad.”

The schedule will stretch Carrick’s group, and it will test the depth Scholes clearly doubts.

Yet he does not question the manager’s ceiling.

“I think Michael Carrick can win the Premier League with Manchester United but it won’t be this season. But if he can build the right team he can do that.”

Arsenal set the standard

All of this is framed against the benchmark Arsenal have set.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended their long wait for a league title last season, lifting their first Premier League trophy since 2004 and reaching the Champions League final, where they lost to PSG on penalties.

They have not stood still. Arsenal are enjoying another strong transfer window and underlined their intent with a commanding 3-0 win over Enzo Maresca’s Man City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

That is the level Scholes is talking about when he says United are “a little bit away” from the champions.

The new campaign will offer an immediate reality check. Manchester United open their 2026-27 Premier League season at home to newly-promoted Hull City this weekend. Arsenal begin their title defence on Friday night against another former Championship side, Coventry City.

Carrick has restored belief and brought United back into the Champions League conversation. The question now is simple: can he build that spine quickly enough to turn promise into a genuine challenge at Arsenal’s throne?