Pep Guardiola has reportedly named Manchester United as one of the strongest favourites to win the Champions League this season following their emphatic return to Europe’s biggest competition, with the former Manchester City manager impressed by what he saw from Michael Carrick’s side during their 4-0 demolition of Sabah at Old Trafford.
United produced a dominant performance on Thursday night to announce their return to the Champions League in style, and although the opposition were making their debut at this level, the manner in which the Red Devils controlled the match has already sparked a wave of optimism around the club.
Manchester United entered the Champions League this season carrying the weight of enormous expectations after missing out on Europe’s elite competition for the previous two seasons. Their return was therefore expected to be accompanied by pressure, but Carrick’s players responded in emphatic fashion. Goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez secured a comprehensive 4-0 victory, giving the Old Trafford supporters exactly the kind of European night they had been waiting for.
The result has inevitably led to bigger questions about how far this Manchester United team can go in the competition, and Guardiola’s reported assessment has added even more fuel to the growing belief that the Red Devils could be genuine contenders. According to the reported claim, Guardiola believes United have the quality, attacking options and mentality required to challenge Europe’s biggest clubs, and the timing of his comments could hardly be more significant given that his own Manchester City side are also expected to be among the teams competing for the trophy.
What particularly impressed observers was the speed with which Manchester United turned a relatively cautious opening into a commanding victory. Sabah arrived at Old Trafford having already made history by reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time, but United quickly demonstrated the enormous difference in experience and squad quality between the two sides. Cunha opened the scoring before Fernandes and Sesko struck before the interval, leaving Sabah with an almost impossible task after halftime. Martinez then added a fourth to complete the rout.
For Carrick, the victory was another important step in his attempt to establish a new identity at Manchester United. The manager has been demanding greater intensity, better attacking movement and improved defensive organisation from his players, and against Sabah, there were clear signs that his ideas are beginning to take shape. United looked dangerous when they moved the ball quickly, created several opportunities through transitions and, most importantly, managed to keep a clean sheet.
That clean sheet may be just as important to Carrick as the four goals. Manchester United have been criticised at various points for defensive inconsistency, but against Sabah they maintained control for long periods and rarely allowed their opponents to build sustained pressure. Sabah did have a significant opportunity through Joy-Lance Mickels while the game was still relatively close, but United survived the moment and subsequently took complete control.
The performances of several individual players also provided encouragement. Bruno Fernandes once again demonstrated his importance to the team by combining creativity with leadership, while Sesko strengthened his argument for a regular starting position after finding the net. The Slovenian striker had already scored against Everton after coming off the bench, and his goal against Sabah only increased the pressure on Carrick to keep him in the starting XI.
Cunha’s contribution was equally important. The Brazilian opened the scoring and gave United the breakthrough they needed after Sabah had managed to remain competitive during the early stages. His ability to operate in dangerous positions and attack spaces could become particularly important as United progress deeper into the Champions League, where they will face opponents capable of punishing even the smallest tactical mistake.
Fernandes, meanwhile, continues to represent the emotional and technical heartbeat of the side. His goal against Sabah was another reminder of his ability to influence important matches, while his leadership has become even more significant as United attempt to rebuild their reputation on the European stage. When the competition reaches its decisive stages, players with experience in high-pressure situations will be essential, and United have several members of the squad who understand what Champions League football demands.
The biggest reason Guardiola’s reported assessment will attract attention, however, is the rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City. Guardiola spent years building one of the most dominant teams in English football, while United have been trying to rediscover the standards that once made them one of Europe’s most feared clubs. Any suggestion from Guardiola that United could now be among the favourites for European glory would therefore carry enormous significance.
Still, there is a major difference between defeating Sabah 4-0 and winning the Champions League. United’s victory was impressive, but the Azerbaijani champions were experiencing their first-ever appearance in the competition’s group stage. They had already made history simply by reaching the main tournament after progressing through four qualifying rounds, and their lack of experience at this level was ultimately exposed at Old Trafford.
That is why United must resist the temptation to become carried away by one result. The Champions League will eventually place Carrick’s team against opponents with considerably greater quality and experience. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City remain among the clubs capable of challenging for the trophy, and United will need to demonstrate that they can compete against those sides before anyone can seriously describe them as favourites.
Nevertheless, the significance of the Sabah victory should not be underestimated. United were returning to the Champions League after a two-season absence, and they did so with a performance that immediately restored some belief among their supporters. The atmosphere around Old Trafford was noticeably different from the uncertainty that had surrounded the club during difficult periods in recent seasons.
The victory also came at an important moment in Carrick’s tenure. The manager knows that a Champions League campaign can quickly define a season. A strong European run can create momentum domestically, improve confidence within the dressing room and strengthen the manager’s relationship with supporters. Conversely, poor performances against elite opposition can expose weaknesses very quickly.
Carrick therefore has an opportunity to use the 4-0 victory as the foundation for something much bigger. His team now needs to show that the performance was not simply the consequence of facing an inexperienced opponent. The real test will come when United face teams capable of matching their physical intensity, controlling possession and exploiting defensive weaknesses.
The upcoming Manchester derby will provide an immediate indication of where United really stand. The Sabah victory was the perfect preparation from a confidence perspective, but Manchester City represent an entirely different challenge. United will need to demonstrate the same attacking efficiency while being much more disciplined defensively if they are to compete with a side possessing world-class players across the pitch.
For supporters, however, there is no reason not to dream. Manchester United have returned to the Champions League with four goals, a clean sheet and a performance that reminded Europe of the size and ambition of the club. The Red Devils may not yet have earned the right to call themselves the favourites, but they have certainly given their supporters reason to believe that a deep run is possible.
The most intriguing part of the story is that United’s ambitions are no longer simply about qualifying for the Champions League. Having returned to the competition, the club now wants to compete at the highest level. The squad has been strengthened, Carrick has begun implementing his ideas and players such as Cunha, Fernandes, Sesko and Martinez have shown they can make an impact on the biggest stage.
If Guardiola really does believe Manchester United are now capable of winning the Champions League, his assessment will undoubtedly become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the tournament. Rival supporters may dismiss the claim as premature, particularly after a victory against a debutant side, but football has always been driven by momentum, confidence and belief.
And Manchester United now have all three.
The 4-0 victory over Sabah will not win the Champions League, but it has provided Carrick and his players with the perfect platform. The road to the final remains extremely long, and far tougher tests are guaranteed to come, but United have made one thing clear with their return to Europe’s elite competition: they are not back merely to participate.
They are back to compete.
For a club with Manchester United’s history, that distinction matters. The ultimate challenge will be proving that the confidence generated by the Sabah victory can survive against Europe’s best teams. If Carrick can turn the attacking quality displayed at Old Trafford into consistency, tighten the defence and maintain the hunger that produced such a convincing opening-night performance, then the Red Devils could become a serious problem for every opponent they meet.
For now, Guardiola’s reported prediction may look bold. But after Manchester United announced their Champions League return with a 4-0 victory, the idea of the Red Devils dreaming about European glory no longer sounds completely unrealistic.