Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes believes a change was needed at Old Trafford when Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim back in January. 

Amorim was sacked with the Red Devils sitting sixth in the Premier League, and since, under the tutelage of Carrick, United have clinched third place in the top flight. 

The former Sporting CP boss only achieved 15 victories in 47 Premier League matches at the helm, giving him the worst win ratio (31.9%) of any United boss in the competition.

No other United coach – permanent or temporary – has recorded a win ratio lower than 42% (Ralf Rangnick, 10/24), with the other nine men to lead the club in the competition all winning at least 50% of their games.

Since Carrick came in, however, no team has won more Premier League games than United's 11, while only Manchester City (31) have scored more league goals than their 30. 

In fact, Carrick has the best points-per-game average of any manager in the Premier League this season (2.25 – P16 W11 D3 L2). Indeed, it is the best by any United manager in a league season since Alex Ferguson's final campaign in 2012-13 (2.34)

Asked about Carrick's impact after collecting his Footballer of the Year prize at the Football Writers' Awards ceremony, Fernandes told Sky Sports News: "When the change was made, we were not far from what we wanted [to achieve] this season. That was the top four.

"At the same time, it was in need of change by the club for different reasons – I won't be naming them now.

"Me and the boss [Michael Carrick] spoke before, and we said we can play better, we want to play better.

"We didn't achieve the level we want to have, but since he came, the results show we were one of the best teams in the Premier League."

Fernandes himself has been key to United's revival in the Premier League under Carrick.

Since the 44-year-old returned to Old Trafford, no player has had more goal involvements (15) or created more chances (76) than the Portugal international in the top-flight. 

And following his assist against Nottingham Forest last time out, which was his 20th, Fernandes is one more away from setting a new overall record for the most in a Premier League campaign (Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20 also 20).

And Fernandes credited Carrick for his sensational return under his stewardship. 

"Michael came in with a big personality but also with a lot of calmness about what he needed to do to bring the best out of the team, and he did it in the best way," he added.

"For myself, it was a great end of the season. I got to really enjoy the football I was playing and, most importantly, the team was getting results."

United conclude their Premier League campaign away to Brighton on Sunday, a team they are looking to complete the double over for the first time since 2020-21.