Man Utd Secure CL Spot vs Liverpool, Cunha Backs Carrick Permanently

Manchester United secured Champions League qualification for next season with a 3-2 victory over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, prompting forward Matheus Cunha to call for interim manager Michael Carrick to receive the job on a permanent basis.

Cunha, who opened the scoring in the match, praised Carrick's impact after the former midfielder took charge in January following Ruben Amorim's sacking. United sat sixth in the Premier League at that time but have since won 10 of Carrick's 14 games in charge, clinching a top-four finish with three matches remaining. The result exceeded expectations for Carrick, a former United player under Sir Alex Ferguson, whose deep club knowledge made him a natural interim choice while director of football Jason Wilcox conducts a search for a long-term successor.

"Yeah, yeah, honestly," Cunha said when asked about Carrick staying. "I don't think it's in my hands. But what he did, he's full of confidence in the group. Look, I sat on the bench with him, but how he teaches everyone is amazing. I think he has the magic like these Ferguson times. He comes and brings it to us, teaches us how it was. To be part of everything he did, it's...