Manchester United made an impressive return to the Champions League, but Jamie Carragher believes the result against Sabah FK should not immediately turn the club into one of Europe’s leading contenders.
Michael Carrick’s side opened their Champions League campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over the Azerbaijan side at Old Trafford on Friday, September 11, 2026. Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez were all on the scoresheet as United celebrated their first appearance in the competition since 2023.
The result was exactly the kind of start Manchester United wanted.
However, the quality of the opposition means the performance cannot yet answer the bigger question: are United genuinely capable of going deep into the Champions League?
Carragher remains unconvinced.
Jamie Carragher Sets Realistic Expectations for Manchester United
The former Liverpool defender believes Manchester United should avoid putting excessive pressure on themselves at this stage of their European campaign.
Speaking to CBS Sports, Carragher was asked whether United could become serious Champions League contenders this season.
His answer was short and cautious.
“Maybe not,” Carragher said.
The issue, according to Carragher, is not Manchester United’s reputation. The club remains one of the biggest names in world football.
Instead, he questioned whether the current squad has enough quality and recent European consistency to compete with the strongest teams in the tournament.
Carragher also pointed to United’s recent absence from the Champions League.
The club have not been regular participants in the competition in recent years, making it difficult to immediately expect them to challenge for the trophy.
“I don’t mean to disrespect them. Manchester United, as I said, are one of the biggest clubs in the world,” Carragher explained.
“But with the squad they’ve got at the moment, to expect them to do big things and compete with other clubs just because of their name, I don’t think they’ve got the quality to go far in this competition.”
Reaching the Knockout Stage Should Come First
Rather than immediately discussing a potential Champions League title challenge, Carragher believes Manchester United should focus on a more achievable objective.
That means getting through the league phase.
The Champions League now uses a league-phase format rather than the traditional group stage. United therefore need to collect enough positive results across their fixtures to secure progression to the knockout stage.
For Carragher, that should be the team’s initial priority.
“I think the first target is to make sure they get through the league phase, and then when they get into the knockout phase, can they have a good run? Maybe to the quarter-finals,” he said.
That assessment does not necessarily mean Carragher believes United are incapable of surprising teams.
Instead, he sees the knockout stage as the point where the real challenge begins.
Once United face opponents with greater quality and experience at the highest level, their ability to compete will become much clearer.
Thierry Henry Wants to See Bigger Tests
Thierry Henry offered a slightly different perspective.
The former Arsenal star also believes it is too early to make a definitive judgment about Manchester United’s Champions League prospects.
Henry acknowledged that beating Sabah was an ideal way for United to return to the competition.
Playing at Old Trafford, United scored four goals and kept a clean sheet, giving Carrick’s team the perfect result.
But Henry believes stronger opponents will provide a much more useful measure of United’s level.
“It was the perfect game to play at home as the first Champions League game and mark their return,” Henry said.
He identified Atletico Madrid on matchday three as a particularly important fixture.
“After that, maybe we can get confirmation after playing Atletico Madrid on matchday three. But we’ll see,” Henry added.
That match could offer a much clearer indication of whether United have developed enough to compete against established European opposition.
Manchester City Derby Is Another Major Test
Before Atletico Madrid, Manchester United face another major challenge.
Manchester City are due to visit Old Trafford for the Manchester derby at the weekend.
For Henry, that fixture could also reveal more about Carrick’s squad.
The timing is significant because United cannot simply focus on their Champions League victory. They must quickly recover and prepare for a Premier League match against one of their biggest rivals.
“It is too early. It is very difficult to know,” Henry said.
He also pointed out that some players were withdrawn at half-time, while others did not start because of the upcoming Manchester City fixture.
That means the 4-0 victory over Sabah should be viewed in context.
United were impressive, but the circumstances surrounding the match make it difficult to use the result as definitive evidence of their European level.
Carrick Happy With the Result But Acknowledges Sabah’s Challenge
Carrick naturally had plenty of reasons to be pleased.
Manchester United scored four goals, kept a clean sheet and produced some attractive attacking football in their Champions League comeback.
However, the manager also rejected the idea that the match was as straightforward as the final score suggested.
“Happy to keep a clean sheet and, of course, win the game. Some of the football we played was really good, dangerous in transition,” Carrick told TNT Sports.
He also praised Sabah for making the contest difficult.
“I have to give them a lot of credit because they were difficult to play against,” Carrick said.
The manager’s final assessment was particularly telling.
“The result looks comfortable, but it wasn’t always like that. We did a lot of good things tonight, which then gave us a good result.”
That perspective is important.
A 4-0 scoreline naturally attracts headlines, but Carrick understands that Manchester United will face much tougher situations during the Champions League campaign.
The Next Matches Will Tell the Real Story
The victory over Sabah was undoubtedly a positive beginning for Manchester United.
Four goals and a clean sheet provide Carrick with a strong foundation, while players such as Cunha, Fernandes, Sesko and Martinez all gained confidence from finding the net.
But the bigger question remains unanswered.
Can Manchester United compete with Europe’s elite?
The upcoming fixtures will provide significantly better evidence.
The key tests ahead include:
- Manchester City: A major domestic test in the Manchester derby.
- Atletico Madrid: A potentially revealing Champions League fixture on matchday three.
- The league phase: United must consistently collect results to secure knockout qualification.
- The knockout stage: Only then will the team face the pressure of potentially progressing toward the latter stages.
For now, Carragher’s caution appears understandable. Manchester United have made a strong start, but one big win over Sabah cannot establish them as Champions League favourites.
Carrick’s side have earned the right to be optimistic. The next step is proving that optimism against stronger opposition.
If United can deliver convincing performances against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, the conversation around their European ambitions could change quickly.
Until then, the 4-0 win should be celebrated as an excellent beginning rather than treated as proof that Manchester United are ready to go all the way.
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