Carrick has set his next challenge: to break Manchester United's recent biggest curse by ending an eight-match winless streak against Tottenham.

Manchester United's 3-2 win over Fulham marked their third straight triumph, quelling concerns that the Red Devils find it harder to play against mid-level teams. With that obstacle cleared, Carrick now aims at the next opponent—Tottenham. This club, where Carrick once played, has been Manchester United’s toughest rival in recent seasons. Prior to managing United, Carrick was also contacted by Tottenham.

Data shows that in all competitions, including the Premier League, Europa League, and League Cup, Manchester United has failed to beat Tottenham in eight matches. The last time the Red Devils defeated Tottenham was on October 19, 2022, when they won 2-0 at home in the Premier League, with goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes in the second half.

Since then, Manchester United has been trapped in a winless cycle against Tottenham, with three draws and five losses in eight games. Last season, Tottenham even completed a "quadruple" over United, including a crucial 0-1 defeat in the Europa League final, marking the worst season in the club’s history.

Since Carrick took over, Manchester United has achieved remarkable feats, including consecutive wins over top-table rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, a last-minute victory against Fulham, and a three-game winning streak. The team has scored 44 goals in the Premier League, matching their total from the entire previous season. After 24 rounds, United has accumulated 41 points, just one point fewer than last season’s total. Of course, this is not an achievement but rather highlights how poor last season was.

Commenting on the rollercoaster victory, Carrick said, "The final goal was crucial, and the celebration was electric. I think that’s what the game gives us—the reason people love football. From despair to ecstasy, it’s like an emotional cleansing."

The Red Devils’ coach analyzed in detail: "At that moment, everyone was cheering, substitutes rushed to Benjamin (Sesko), along with coaches and fans. We initially aimed to hold onto the lead, but in stoppage time, you suddenly have to push for victory again, your spirit becomes more positive, and you need to create chances anew. Bruno (Fernandes) delivered, and Ben finished it off. Quickly adjusting after conceding, maintaining a positive mindset, this shows our strong character. Such qualities are vital when needed—not only benefiting the team but also energizing the fans with passion and enthusiasm."

When Tottenham visits Old Trafford next Saturday, Carrick hopes Manchester United will keep their momentum. Carrick stated, "Passion is a must. We want fans to come with excitement, look forward to a thrilling match, enjoy it, and leave happy, eager for the next game. But we can’t get ahead of ourselves; as the saying goes: one game at a time. We could have performed better today and still have plenty of room for improvement in all aspects of the game."

Carrick added, "We’ve only trained together for three weeks and are still working on improvements. Today’s match was mainly about perseverance and finding a way to win. Three wins in a row are good, but we want more. Hopefully, United can win more comfortably, but in some ways, when victories like this happen, their significance goes beyond just one win—they inspire many people."

Interestingly, the upcoming match against Tottenham will be Carrick’s first of two games leading Manchester United against his former clubs; the Red Devils will also face West Ham United midweek, and Carrick came through the "Hammers" youth system. For United’s top scorer Mbemou, he will also face his mentor Thomas Frank.

Tottenham hosted another Manchester team, Manchester City, this round and staged a comeback from 0-2 down to draw level thanks to Solanke’s brace. Although Frank’s team has struggled this season, they still have the capability to pose a different kind of challenge to Manchester United.