1. Michael Carrick’s final test is the most difficult one
Michael Carrick is unbeaten in his five games as Manchester United manager with three victories over Big 6 clubs and a win in the Champions League. He also won 46.3% of his games at Middlesbrough. There is no question that he has United organized in a way that gets the most out of his players. As small as the sample size is, it is not difficult to build a strong argument that he should get the job permanently. There really is just one question mark remaining before he should be considered a legitimate candidate.
Other United bosses – both interim and permanent – have had great stretches and famous victories. What they haven't done is turn those bright spots into a consistent run of positive results. The team's next five matches are against Fulham and four teams in the bottom half of the table. Those types of games are the ones United have struggled with for years. They – not the wins over Manchester City and Arsenal – will reveal how much progress has actually been made.
2. Manchester City needed Marc Guéhi in the worst way
Manchester City only gave up two goals to Manchester United, but it was their largest expected goals defeat ever, according to The xG Philosophy. Then they conceded three goals to Bodø/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday, marking the fifth time in six games that they failed to keep a clean sheet. It has been exactly a month since City have beaten a top-flight opponent while allowing a goal.
The attack is obviously a significant part of the problem. However, what’s happening in defense is more concerning and easier to fix. The team has at most three reliable defenders, two of whom are currently unavailable. Arsenal have double that, if not more. That’s why landing Marc Guéhi became such a priority. He went straight into the starting lineup and helped keep a clean sheet, albeit against Wolves. City were not winning a league title – this season or in the future – until they acquired a defender of Guéhi’s caliber.
3. Even the NWSL’s big win comes with questions
At long last, the National Women's Soccer League got a star on the front end of their prime to sign an extension. It took an incredible amount of work and a new High Impact Player rule to make it happen, but the Washington Spirit made Trinity Rodman the highest-paid female player in the world when she was a free agent. Teams in Europe would have loved to have her, and she chose to stay. That is a cause of celebration for the entire league, not just the Spirit.
Here's the problem: The High Impact Player rule is currently being fought by the players' association. What happens if it gets struck down in court? Rodman’s deal would destroy the club's salary cap situation, and everyone knows exactly where all of the Spirit's money is going. There is a relational dynamic that must be considered here too. How are players going to feel about a handful of stars making way more than everyone else? There is a lot more to think about than just whether Rodman is worth the money, which she absolutely is.
4. The Premier League’s parity really is amazing
Premier League clubs placed first, third, eighth and 22nd in the debut of the Champions League league phase last season. Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final, and Chelsea cruised through the Conference League. With one game remaining in this season’s league phase, English teams own three of the top five, five of the top eight and six of the top 11 spots in the table. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are among the favorites in the other two competitions too.
Just this weekend, teams on track to automatically qualify for the Champions League knockout stage drew against a team in the relegation zone and lost to a mid-table side that just sold its best player. Tottenham have a 24-game unbeaten run at home in European competitions yet have just two victories at home in the Premier League. It’s great that anyone can beat anyone on any given day in the best league in the world. England’s financial and on-field dominance over the rest of Europe is not so great for the overall health of the sport.
5. Inter Miami have reloaded in a big way
With the retirements of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, this winter marked the beginning of phase two of the Lionel Messi project in Miami. Inter Miami are no longer Barcelona reincarnated, so what would the next chapter look like? The answer is athletic and Argentine. Playoff heroes Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti have completed permanent transfers. David Ayala, a 23-year-old Argentine, was acquired from the Portland Timbers to replace Busquets.
Sergio Reguilón will take over for Alba at left back. The Herons also turned their weakest position – goalkeeper – into a strength by signing Dayne St. Clair and bringing back Rocco Ríos Novo. Germán Berterame should be officially arriving any day as a new designated player. Calling it a transition isn’t entirely accurate; it’s taking everything that worked in the playoffs and building upon it. The result is probably the best team Major League Soccer has ever seen.