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A striking statistic has emerged that perfectly illustrates Manchester United’s exceptional 2025/26 season.

The Red Devils enjoyed an excellent campaign, with the turning point coming when Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim as manager at the beginning of the year.

Under Amorim, United had struggled to find any sense of rhythm, plagued by inconsistency and issues both on and off the field. However, Carrick brought much-needed stability and led the team on an extraordinary run that secured a top-four finish and a return to the UEFA Champions League, ending the season in third place.

United’s convincing 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Sunday extended Carrick’s record to 12 wins, three draws, and just two defeats in 17 matches.

Last week, Carrick was officially appointed as United’s permanent head coach. The club had maintained throughout the process that they would take a measured approach, thoroughly assessing all potential candidates before finalising the appointment.

Nevertheless, Carrick’s remarkable results and the team’s transformation under his guidance made his selection almost inevitable. Speaking to MUTV following the dominant win over Brighton, the former midfield maestro expressed great optimism about the club’s direction and the seasons ahead.

An additional reason for optimism emerged with an interesting piece of analysis from Opta.

According to the data specialists, Manchester United topped a mini-league consisting of the Premier League’s top five teams this season.

Opta’s breakdown of the head-to-head clashes between these leading sides showed United finishing first in this mini-table, having won five of their eight encounters.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa finished second, followed by Manchester City in third. League champions Arsenal were placed fourth, while Liverpool rounded out the group in fifth.

With memorable triumphs over City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Villa, Carrick’s superb run has underlined one clear fact: Manchester United are capable of beating any opponent on their day.

With a productive summer transfer window and the right additions, United will be aiming to build on this momentum and launch a genuine Premier League title challenge next season.