Harry Maguire is hoping Manchester United can build on the momentum achieved under Michael Carrick and believes the best is yet to come from the Red Devils. 

United are preparing for their first full term under the guidance of Carrick after he was appointed as the club's permanent head coach in May following a fine ending to 2025-26. 

After returning to the club in January following Ruben Amorim's departure, no team in the Premier League won more games (12) or scored more goals (33) than Carrick's United. 

The 44-year-old has won 12 of his 17 games in charge across all competitions (D3 L2), and Carrick's preparations for the new campaign have gone well so far. 

Following a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Wrexham in their first pre-season outing, United have beaten Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid, while also coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain last time out. 

Maguire played a key role in United's upturn in form at the end of last season, and he believes Carrick will continue to go from strength to strength at Old Trafford. 

"If we can continue that momentum, that would be great," Maguire added. "We had the most Premier League points since he joined, so that will be our aim this season. 

"But we will have new ideas and new ways of playing. There will be different tactics that the manager wants to see from us. We played well in a lot of games but could have played even better. We understand that as players. 

"We've been working hard on that during pre-season, and I think you are going to see a lot better performances from us this season."

Maguire was another player to benefit from Carrick's arrival at the start of 2026. No United player won more duels in the Premier League than his 44, while he also ranked joint-second for duels won (82, level with Luke Shaw) and fourth for successful passes (601) in that time. 

Despite his promising displays, Maguire was left of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup, making it the first international tournament he has missed over the last eight years. 

However, his omission has allowed him to have a full pre-season with United, something Maguire said has helped him get back into the swing of things quicker than expected. 

"I feel like you improve your fitness every week that goes by during pre-season," he added. "It's been nice to go straight into a 60-minute game and be able to build myself up.

"I am pleased with the way it's gone. As a team, I think we're in a really good position. We're all fit and looking strong. It's great to have all the players back from the World Cup.

"It makes our squad even stronger and improves the competition for places and that is the way it should be at this club."

United begin their Premier League campaign on August 22 away to newly-promoted Hull City, a team Maguire turned out for between 2014 and 2017. 

They then take on Ipswich Town, Everton, Manchester City and Fulham before the extended international break in September, and Maguire insisted that a good start to their campaign was paramount if they are to achieve their ambitions in 2026-27. 

"In the Premier League, you always want a good start," Maguire said. "You don't want to be playing catch-up in the Premier League because there are so many good teams.

"There are no given games. When you play against anyone, you've got to go out there and fight for the three points because you know the following week it is going to be just as tough, and that is part and parcel of the Premier League."