(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Mon 4 May 2026 7:30, UK

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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been fortunate that interim boss Michael Carrick has secured Champions League qualification.

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that Ratcliffe has made “many mistakes” during his time at Old Trafford.

United will play in the Champions League for the first time since 2023-24, a prospect which seemed unlikely earlier in the season under Ruben Amorim, following Sunday’s notable 3-2 win over Liverpool.

Carrick’s appointment as interim boss in January changed the club’s fortunes on the pitch, and the 44-year-old is now a leading contender to earn the job on a full-time basis.

A top five Premier League finish for Man United, and qualification for the Champions League, is set to help the club financially increase revenue, with Ratcliffe facing growing debt behind the scenes.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘no longer in the headlines’ at Man United

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Carrick has saved Ratcliffe from further scrutiny at Man United.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that he will call out Ratcliffe if he is surrounded with further controversy at Old Trafford.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s absolutely crucial for Man United that they get Champions League and Carrick has delivered.

“I can imagine Ratcliffe is loving the peace and quiet he’s getting right now as he’s no longer in the headlines for screwing up the whole club. However, if he makes one utterance, I’ll be the first to jump on him to say that this was not all his grand plan because, believe me, luck played its part with Michael Carrick.

“I was watching the United against Brentford game, and you look at Kobbie Mainoo and you think, how could Ruben Amorim get that completely wrong and not think this is a high quality player?

“It just beggars belief that he could have got that so wrong. So there are many mistakes that Ratcliffe’s made, and they’ve got lucky.”

Man United target upgrade on attacking options

Man United and Ratcliffe will look to back the club in the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad for European football next season.

Sources have told Football Insider that Man United’s pursuit of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao could cost the club between £50million and £60m.

The 26-year-old has scored nine goals in 26 Serie A appearances this season, and could bolster Man United’s attacking ranks amid growing concerns over Bryan Mbeumo.

Mbeumo has not scored since February, whilst fellow winger Amad Diallo has only found the net twice in the Premier League this season.