Carrick sets no deadline to make Manchester United Premier League champions again

Michael Carrick has not put a timeframe on returning Manchester United to the Premier League summit. The manager declined to publicly back the target set by chief executive Omar Berrada, who wants the club to be English champions again within the next two seasons. For Carrick, the goal is always to win, but without the pressure of a fixed calendar.

• Carrick refuses to set a specific deadline for Manchester United to win the Premier League again.
• Chief executive Omar Berrada has targeted the title within two seasons.
• United have gone 13 years without a league crown since the 2012-13 campaign.
• The club has won just two of its first nine matches in all competitions this season.
• A hostile visit to Leeds United at Elland Road awaits on Sunday.

The pressure to deliver another league crown at Old Trafford

Carrick was asked directly about the ambition Berrada placed on a two-year horizon. His answer avoided any specific deadline. “I think the goal, being at this football club, the goal is always to win. There's no timeframe on that from my perspective. It's as soon as we possibly can,” the manager said. He admitted, however, that taking the final step to lift the Premier League trophy is a massive challenge.

Manchester United have not won the domestic championship since the 2012-13 season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s final campaign in charge. That side featured Carrick himself as a key figure in midfield. Since then, the club has gone through seven managers without mounting a serious title challenge, a drought that weighs on every sporting decision at Old Trafford.

We're trying to build to get to somewhere where we haven't been for too long. I know that, and sometimes you've got to go through different ways and different pathways to get to the top.

Project 150 and Berrada's push to return United to the top

The Manchester United chief executive has linked the return to the elite with the club’s anniversary. Project 150 aims to make United Premier League champions in 2028, the year the club will celebrate 150 years of history. Berrada reiterated his desire to hit that goal back in June, effectively setting a two-season window to achieve it.

Carrick, however, has chosen not to make that specific timeline his own. His message is centred on the process rather than the final date. He believes the club understands there are still steps to take before regularly competing for the title, a realistic reading given the team’s uneven start to the campaign.

A difficult start that has not dimmed the manager's energy

Manchester United have won just two of their first nine games in all competitions and none of their last four Premier League outings. Despite that, Carrick says he is enjoying even the struggle. “It's the best job I could possibly have. I feel a real privilege of being in this position and a real responsibility, but equally a drive of wanting to make a difference and having success here,” he explained.

Far from feeling overwhelmed, the manager described this period as a chance to find solutions. “I love the situation when actually you get a little bit of some sort of struggle where you've got to find a way out of it,” he added. That mentality will be tested immediately at one of the most demanding away grounds in English football.

Leeds trip: a heated rivalry amid United's inconsistent run

United visit Leeds United on Sunday for a historic rivalry that promises a hostile atmosphere at Elland Road. Daniel Farke’s side have lost only six of their last 31 league matches, making the trip a serious test for Carrick’s struggling team. Still, the manager dismissed the idea that this is the worst possible fixture during a poor run of form.

“I don't think it's the last game I need right now, for sure. I'm really looking forward to the game. I generally feel the drive for myself to want to push this club forward more than anything,” he said. Carrick insisted he does not go looking for negativity and remains focused on helping his players deliver the level he believes is not far away.

Frequently asked questions about Manchester United's future