Carrick’s Manchester United resurgence continues, but the manager insists the job is not finished despite securing a top-three finish.

MANCHESTER, April 28 — Manchester United moved closer to securing Champions League qualification with a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday, but interim manager Michael Carrick said the team must continue pushing to finish as high as possible in the Premier League.

The win lifted United to third place on 61 points, 11 ahead of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, with four matches remaining.

With the top five set to qualify for next season’s Champions League, United need just two more points to confirm their return to Europe’s elite competition after a two-year absence.

Carrick, the former United midfielder who took over in January following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, said the team should not become complacent.

“The Champions League is one thing, but it’s not something we should be over-celebrating either,” he told reporters. “We want to finish as high as possible, stay competitive at the top end of the table, and keep accumulating points so our season doesn’t simply end once qualification is secured.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position, but there’s still work to do.”

Casemiro also found the net in Monday’s match, and while fans have urged the club to extend his stay, Carrick said the situation regarding the midfielder is already clear.

“From both sides, it’s pretty clear. The clarity of the situation has helped everything,” he said.

“It means a lot to him, and credit to him because, given the circumstances, he has given everything and delivered important moments for us.”

United will next face fourth-placed Liverpool on Sunday. — Reuters