Michael Carrick has made his feelings clear about Manchester United’s academy following criticism from the club’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Manchester United will restart their Premier League campaign on Monday night, bringing a 13-day break to a close as Michael Carrick’s side travel to face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The fixture will be the senior team’s first appearance at Everton’s new ground, although United’s women enjoyed success there in October 2025, recording a 4–1 victory in the Women’s Super League.
Carrick’s men go into the match looking to build on their 1–1 draw at West Ham a fortnight ago. Currently fourth in the table ahead of the upcoming round, they are well placed in the race for Champions League qualification.
That said, the battle remains close. Chelsea sit just a point behind in fifth, while Liverpool trail by three points, highlighting the need for United to avoid any setbacks against David Moyes’s side.
Carrick makes feelings clear about United academy
Ahead of the upcoming clash with Everton, Carrick was asked about the club’s youth academy in his pre-match press conference.
The interim boss has been paying close attention to the youth teams in recent weeks and attending many different games, including their last two FA Youth Cup clashes.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently suggested that the academy was not performing well enough – a claim that many have disagreed with – and Carrick was asked about those comments.
“Yeah, it’s not so much a take on the quote, [but] I’ve seen the work the Academy does, I mean, my son’s been here since he was seven years old and I’ve seen it and [have] nothing but positive things to say, you know, the experience that he’s had coming through,” the ex-midfielder explained.
“That’s as a parent, really, so that side of things has been a great journey for him. Take away the football, just the experiences and the things that you live through as a young man, really.
“And for a long time, it’s been successful with players and players in the first team and, you know, nearly 90 years, I think, since there wasn’t an Academy player in the first-team squad. So, it’s great history and something we need to keep building on for sure.”
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How United can improve
United’s academy is not going to produce the Class of 92 every year. There have been many successful graduates in recent years, even if they have since left the club.
But there is one area where United may look to improve in terms of their academy, and that is generating more from those they decide to sell.
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The club have not often been able to generate high fees for their academy players, partly because the previous regime rarely needed to care about that kind of extra revenue. Now, it would be a difference-maker.
Alejandro Garnacho’s sale to Chelsea was a significant amount but the £45 million paid could have been even more considering his experience at the time.
In the end, academy players will be more valuable if they are in and amongst a successful team and being platformed correctly. While United should focus on bringing through youth and using them in the team, if players are going to be moved on then the club should be making more from those sales.
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