Pundit Gary Lineker has now dropped his assessment on the state of the current Manchester United first-team squad under Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick’s men will finish the 2025-26 Premier League season in third after Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Goals from Luke Shaw, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo ensured that the Red Devils ended their final match at Old Trafford this season on a high note.
Carrick, who has been linked with the permanent United manager role, also addressed the Red Devils fans after the Premier League match at the weekend.
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Gary Lineker on the Man Utd starting XI and what Michael Carrick needs for the 2026-27 campaign
Gary Lineker admitted that Manchester United were always going to benefit in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign over their limited fixture run at Old Trafford.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: “Of course, they would have benefited from the fact that they were only in one competition.
“That was the Premier League. So, it is an advantage and it would be more difficult next season.”
United have secured their return to the Champions League for the 2026-27 campaign after the transformative impact of Michael Carrick’s interim reign.
Lineker has warned that the United first-team squad is lacking serious depth for all competitions, but he thinks that the Red Devils’ starting XI now looks strong.
“And you look at the overall squad and it’s probably not got enough depth, but at least now you can look at them and say, as an XI, they’re a very competitive side,” he continued.
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Gary Lineker singles out Casemiro ahead of the Man Utd and Brazil midfielder’s Old Trafford exit this season
Casemiro played his final match at Old Trafford as a Man Utd player and the 34-year-old Brazilian midfielder received an incredible reception from United fans.
Lineker insisted that the former Real Madrid star has been “excellent” for United legend Carrick and warned that the Red Devils will deeply miss his influence.
“They’ve got some excellent footballers,” he added.
“They’re going to miss Casemiro. No doubt about that. I think he’s been excellent for them.”
Casemiro has only one remaining Premier League fixture left with the Red Devils ahead of the Brazil international leaving Old Trafford in the summer.
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