The champagne may still be flowing from Manchester United's Carabao Cup celebrations, but two of football's most astute pundits have delivered a sobering reality check. Sky Sports duo Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have issued a stark warning to Erik ten Hag, insisting the Wembley victory merely masks the deep-rooted problems still plaguing the Theatre of Dreams.
Carragher launched a scathing assessment, declaring United's performance in the final far from convincing. "Let's be clear," the Liverpool legend stated, "this was not a dominant display. They were hanging on at times against a Championship side. That's not the hallmark of a truly top team."
While acknowledging the importance of ending the club's six-year trophy drought, Carragher emphasised that the real work begins now. "The trophy buys Ten Hag time and belief, but it doesn't solve the fundamental issues. The Premier League form has been inconsistent, and there's a massive gap to close with the likes of City and Arsenal."
Gary Neville, the former United captain, echoed his colleague's sentiments but struck a more nuanced tone. "It's a massive step, a crucial building block," Neville conceded. "You have to start somewhere, and a trophy at Wembley is a fantastic place to begin. The players now know what it feels like to win together."
However, Neville was quick to temper expectations. "But Jamie is right. This cannot be a mask. The performance levels in the league, particularly away from home, have to improve dramatically. The victory must be a platform, not a peak."
The pair agreed that the coming months represent a critical juncture for Ten Hag's project. The Dutchman must use the momentum from this cup win to address United's notorious inconsistency and mount a serious top-four challenge. The Carabao Cup is in the cabinet, but the real test of this team's character is just beginning.
