If the current Premier League standings are positive enough for Manchester United, then another slice of the season is even more impressive. From January 13 - the time Carrick took over as coach - Man United won 16 points after 6 matches, the best record in the league in the same period.
They are 2 points ahead of Chelsea, 6 points ahead of Liverpool and 8 points ahead of Aston Villa. Both Arsenal and Manchester City succumbed to Man United during this period.
The milestone of 13.1 is not accidental. That was the day Carrick officially took over the team, although initially it was only considered a temporary solution for a few months. But as weeks passed, the possibility of him staying in the position for a long time became even greater.
Carrick's profile was once unconvincing when he left Middlesbrough last summer. However, the "Solskjaer precedent" seems to be repeating when a caretaker coach is doing well.
The hard-fought victory against Everton brings an important turning point. According to Opta's prediction model, Man United currently has 72% chance of finishing the season in the top 5. In the context that Ruben Amorim once lost the advantage during the last 10 weeks of his reign, this is a clear reversal.
The official goal of the "Red Devils" is to win a ticket to the European Cup. Previously, Amorim missed an opportunity in a season when many other opponents were eroded by the dense European schedule. Carrick did not.
Two victories against Man City and Arsenal can be seen as "6 bonus points", partly compensating for previous losses. But more importantly, Carrick maintained that upward momentum.
Carrick is a completely opposite model to Amorim. He is discreet in front of the media, calm in his approach and returns to a 4-defender system instead of a 3-center-back formation. Benjamin Sesko's impact from the bench is proof of how he maximizes the potential of new players, including those recruited under Amorim.
Under Amorim, the Man United squad is often rated as wasting potential - the 15th position once reflected more chaos than real quality. Currently, the team plays with a clear structure, positive spirit and coherent strategy.
Carrick brought a simple but effective revolution. He maintained a stable squad, only changing when injured, like the case of Matheus Cunha replacing Patrick Dorgu or Leny Yoro replacing Lisandro Martinez. However, that consistency was once a luxury before.
It is no coincidence that many players praised the interim coaching staff. Sesko called them great, while Bruno Fernandes once believed Carrick could become a good coach from the previous term.
Carrick's advantage lies in his familiarity when he understands the Old Trafford environment, knows key players like Fernandes or Harry Maguire, and adapts quickly to new names.
Of course, long-term challenges are still there. Rotating forces when the European schedule is tight, rebuilding the squad if key players like Casemiro leave, and building a sustainable transfer strategy.
But currently, the calmness that Carrick brings seems to be what Man United needs most after a series of crisis days. While Amorim's best record in a 6-match streak is only 11 points, Carrick won 16 points. That means Man United may not need a perfect sprint to return to the Champions League.
And if that becomes a reality, the opportunity for Carrick to step out of his interim role may no longer be a hypothesis.
