Soccer
Man Utd need to strive for 'consistency and continuity' this season, former player says
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No team in the Premier League had a better finish to last season than Manchester United, who rocketed up the table under caretaker manager Michael Carrick to finish third and return to the Champions League.
With the new campaign just around the corner and Carrick now the permanent man in charge at Old Trafford, it's expected that the Red Devils continue their late-season momentum into 2026-27.
Such are the demands at one of the biggest clubs in the world, who, despite not having much success in recent years, remain a huge name in football.
It's not just the fans who have higher demands for the upcoming season, as even former Red Devils players believe this campaign could be a watershed towards restoring the club's former glory, and how Carrick deals with the pressures of such expectation will go far towards determining Man United's ultimate fate.
"I expect big things from Manchester United this year," said Giuseppi Rossi, speaking exclusively to DAZN News via BetBrothers. "It’s a very important year for Michael Carrick. Is he able to deliver, from start to finish, a season that carries the same momentum he brought when he first came into the job last season?
'Can he find that continuity and consistency? Will he be able to bring that same message to the players again this year to continue to push them on?"
Rossi feels that Carrick already has the tools to succeed, and now it's just about ensuring that he and the players are on the same page day in and day out.
"I think it all comes down to his presence down at Carrington, on the training ground, and the ideas he can drill into this team," he said. "I think that’s what it’s really about for Carrick this season.
"At this level, the level that Michael Carrick and Manchester United need to be at, it all comes down to finding that continuity and developing a very driven mindset to trust in what you’re doing and almost get tunnel vision with your focus on that goal.
'That’s how you establish yourself as one of the best teams in the world again, and even as individual players they need to find that continuity in their own games as well."
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Rossi, who was on the books at Man United from 2004 to 2007 but made his mark in Serie A and La Liga, doesn't think that the Red Devils need to look beyond the Premier League for success in the upcoming campaign.
While the club will obviously strive for as good a performance as possible in the Champions League, Rossi feels that any level of achievement in Europe should remain a secondary goal as United aim to re-establish themselves as the team to beat in England.
"The Champions League will be a bonus this year but let's see how far they can get," Rossi said. "I wouldn't expect anything crazy.
"It's the first time back in the Champions League after a few years, too many years, and that’s been too long for a club like Manchester United, so it’s good to see them back, but it’s a bonus. That’s all.
"The focus has to be on the Premier League and finding that consistency and continuity to give us all confidence in the years to come that the club can win titles and then go on and do well in Europe again."
How to watch the Premier League in Canada
Soccer fans in Canada can watch every Premier League match during the 2026-27 season on DAZN.
With Fubo Sports on DAZN, Canadians can catch Premier League action as well as Serie A. Additionally, DAZN is the home of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Bundesliga and more.
For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.
