Mason Mount insisted Manchester United possess the mentality and the talent to mount a genuine challenge for the Premier League, describing a club in better shape than many expect.

“I have a goal of winning the Premier League,” Mount said. “I’ve won the Champions League already, but can we do that? Yes, I think we can as a group.

“It may seem a little bit far away, but you have to have that mentality to really push yourself as a group. We’ve shown what we can do against the big teams already this season: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal.”

United recorded victories over Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal this season, and beat Chelsea twice under the management of both Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick. Those results have helped reshape the narrative at Old Trafford after a stuttering start under Amorim.

That early inconsistency left United out of the Premier League title race, but the squad’s revival under Carrick has all but secured Champions League football in 2026–27, offering a tangible reward for the turnaround.

“Yeah, I think we have the quality,” Mount said of the team’s chances of hoisting silverware in the near future. “We haven’t had loads of games this season, so maybe it’s been easier. Next season we have a lot more games, but that’s what you want as a player. That’s what you want as a big club.

“You need big games: Old Trafford, Champions League under the lights, having that pressure of performing and winning games. It’s so important, and that’s what we love as players. The fans deserve it.”

Mount, who was speaking after hosting a Make-A-Wish experience for 11 children at St George’s Park, joined Manchester United in 2023–24. The 27-year-old has made 69 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals, and says he is focused on fitness and a larger role next season.

“Hopefully, I can be a massive part of [a title charge] moving forward next season,” Mount continued. “There are going to be a lot more games next season. I will always back myself. I know what I’m about and know what I can bring, especially to the group. I’m a bit older now, I’ve got more experience.”

United have confirmed Carrick as interim boss through the end of the season. Carrick is the favourite to keep the post after strong results with a squad that struggled under Amorim. Mount admitted he does not know what will happen over Carrick’s future but offered praise for the manager.

Manchester United are understood to have identified Andoni Iraola as the clearest external option should they decide not to appoint Michael Carrick permanently. The Telegraph reports Iraola is regarded as the “strongest” alternative to Carrick, and his confirmed departure from Bournemouth at the end of the season has placed him on the market.

United remain likely to favour Carrick, with the interim boss still the frontrunner, but the club are not ruling out at least speaking to other candidates. That approach reflects a caution born of past experience; the club are wary of repeating the decision to hand Ole Gunnar Solskjær a full-time contract while the season was still ongoing. Solskjaer produced United’s most consistent Premier League finishes in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but results dipped after he was given a permanent deal in March 2019.

Iraola’s appeal at Old Trafford is said to rest on his attacking style, a philosophy that aligns with what decision makers at the club are seeking. Yet there is a clear counterargument: Iraola lacks experience at the elite level. After more than 500 appearances for Athletic Club as a player, the Basque coach has managed Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, roles in which his remit was to build modest clubs into outfits that punch above their weight.

That background is both a strength and a limitation. His record suggests he can instil a coherent style and get strong performances from limited resources, but Manchester United are an organisation with different expectations and a demand for immediate, high-level success rather than a long-term development project.

Meanwhile, competition for Iraola’s services is reportedly present, with Chelsea linked to interest following the sacking of Liam Rosenior. Carrick could still be handed the job, particularly if Champions League qualification for next season is secured, but United appear intent on weighing options before reaching a final decision.

Manchester United appear to have identified Andoni Iraola as the principal alternative to Michael Carrick for the permanent manager role, though Carrick remains the favorite. The Telegraph reports Iraola is considered the “strongest” alternative candidate to Carrick.

Iraola’s confirmed departure from Bournemouth at the end of the season has left him available on the market. Sources suggest it is his attacking approach that attracts the Old Trafford decision makers. United could still hand Carrick the job once Champions League soccer for next season is guaranteed, but the club are not ruling out at least speaking to alternatives, even though they have not done so yet.

There are suggestions of competition for Iraola’s services, with Chelsea named as a possible suitor following their dismissal of Liam Rosenior. Inside United, executives are said to be wary of repeating the mistake of moving too quickly. The memory of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s permanent appointment while the campaign was still in progress remains fresh. Solskjaer produced the club’s most consistent Premier League finishes in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, yet results declined after he was handed a full-time contract in March 2019.

The principal concern about appointing Iraola is his limited experience at the highest level. As a player he made more than 500 appearances for Athletic Club, and his managerial resume comprises Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth. In both cases his remit was to build smaller clubs so they could punch above their usual weight. That model — coaching a philosophy into an underdog squad over a sustained period — is presented as a contrast with how Manchester United typically operate.

United’s decision-makers now face a clear choice between continuity with Carrick and the longer-term project associated with Iraola’s profile.