Manchester United

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick speaking to Sky Sports: "We wanted to finish strong. We've put ourselves in a good position and to have today in front of our supporters. We wanted to win the game, made it a bit difficult for ourselves at times but I thought some of the football was fantastic and we could've won by more. It was a good day for us to win the game and see the atmosphere in the stadium was special."

On Bruno Fernandes equalling the assist record: "It's what he's good at. He has a knack and a gift of creating opportunities and sensing space and knowing what's around him. It was important for him and for all of us. There was two or three times where I thought he was going to get it, a couple of times when he was running through and I thought is he going to shoot or pass but he didn't want it to overtake the team. It was nice that he did that for himself but for everyone to celebrate it was a nice moment."

On Casemiro: "Casemiro has been a very good player for a long time. We appreciate everything he has done and especially since I have been here he's been excellent. Part of football is that things come to an end and you have to evolve and adapt. There's been big players over the time I've been here that have left the club. It's a challenge but we thank him for everything he's done."

On Luke Shaw: "Delighted for Luke, he's been consistent and stay fit. He's such a good player and to have him score in that moment was nice. He's had ups and tough moments and he's come through it and is still here. We expect a lot from him, he's very experienced now, but today was a nice day for him."

On his own future at the club: "Clarity in terms of coming towards the end of the season, nothing has changed. If there's something to be said either way then it will be announced but today was about the game and finishing the season strongly for all the players and the club. We'll see what happens in the next few days.

"There's a lot of rumours, it's interesting to see what's true and what isn't. That's not for me to get involved with. Clarity will come in the next few days."

Bruno Fernandes speaking to Sky Sports on the assist record: "I spoke about that, everybody knew it was important. They've been trying to score from my passes. I'm very happy for the assist and for the win and to finish the season on a high."

On votes for player of the season: "It's a privilege and a pleasure for me, knowing that your job is being recognised by many people, that I was player of the season I am very grateful."

On his assist record: "I got to 20 today, let's see, we have one more game. It's the highest I've done in the Premier League so I am very happy with it."

Did you know?

• Bruno Fernandes has now equalled the record for most assists in a Premier League season (20), levelling Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20.

• Manchester United have scored in 33 of their 37 games, no team has done so more often in the Premier League this season.

• Manchester United have beaten Nottingham Forest for the first time in the Premier League since 26 August 2023, a run of four games without a win.

Various pundits have been discussing on-field referee Michael Salisbury's decision to award Manchester United's second goal against Nottingham Forest, despite an apparent handball by the Red Devils' Bryan Mbeumo in the build-up.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann told Final Score: "You can clearly see the ball comes off Mbeumo's arm prior to going to [Matheus] Cunha. For me, it is a penalisable handball.

"Mbeumo does control the ball and, while he is not the scorer himself, football's expectation is for a goal like that to be disallowed as opposed to being given.

"The law states that usually if it is the scorer who has accidentally or deliberately handled the ball before putting the ball in the back of the net, it will be disallowed.

"Football's expectation is that the handball outweighs any possible deflection off Mbeumo's hip.

"It is a good intervention from the VAR. I would've recommended a review myself, had I been the VAR. I do think that while it is commendable the referee sticks with their decision, which we don't see very often, this is only the fourth time it has happened. But I feel the correct decision is to disallow the goal for a handball.

"It is a decision that will split people. I can see both sides of the argument but we've had so many talks recently about needing to go back to deliberate handball. If it's unequivocally a handball, then we disallow. If the handball is accidental or if the arm is in an unnatural position, and we have all these clauses in the law, then it gets a bit complicated - so I would advocate for a return to just deliberate handball."

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said on Sky Sports: "It is a handball. It is as simple as that. The referee has gone to the screen and made a decision but, if you look at it, it is clear as day."

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane added: "We are confused here, especially because the referee was asked to go to the screen and then still gave it.

"All of us ex-footballers will all be saying the same thing - handball. I don't think anyone would've complained about it. We were all scratching our heads when it was allowed."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man Utd's performance

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick has suggested he will give an opportunity to some of the younger players at Manchester United for their final Premier League game of the season at Brighton next week.

Carrick has been a regular at academy games since taking over at United in January, and also watched the FA Youth Cup final defeat at Manchester City on Thursday.

He was prevented from doing it against Nottingham Forest due to the PL2 final against Brighton, which United lost 1-0, being played on Saturday night at the Amex Stadium.

However, Carrick knows the importance of youth development and it seems as though the likes of Shea Lacey and Fletcher twins Tyler and Jack will have some involvement on the final day of the Premier League season.

"It is something we would love to happen - one hundred percent," Carrick said.

"Obviously we will reassess leading into the Brighton game, but it is a massive part for me and for this football club to try and bring the younger players on and give them opportunities to see what they can do."

Tyler Silsby scored the second-half winner for Brighton, who went into the play-offs after a 12th-placed finish.

Lacey, Chido Obi and skipper Sonny Aljofree had Manchester United's best chances, but couldn't make it count.

Casemiro returns for his farewell appearance at Old Trafford.

The veteran Brazilian midfielder is one of three changes to the Manchester United starting line-up from the team that drew at Sunderland last week.

Diogo Dalot returns at right-back and Bryan Mbeumo is recalled. Mason Mount, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee drop to the bench.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo

Substitutes: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, Dorgu, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven

Morgan Gibbs-White returns for the visitors after his nasty facial injury. Chris Wood is back at centre-forward for the visitors, who also recall Omari Hutchinson to the starting line-up.

Ibrahim Sangare is named on the bench for Nottingham Forest, who have eased clear of relegation trouble.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Netz, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Wood

Substitutes: Victor, Ortega, Sangare, Awoniyi, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Bakwa, Abbott

There are six games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Manchester United v Nottingham Forest (12:30)

• Brentford v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Everton v Sunderland

• Leeds v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Fulham

• Newcastle v West Ham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 15:00 unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v West Ham", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match (12:30 GMT) between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, which is set to be Casemiro's final home appearance for the Red Devils.

Manchester United sealed Champions League qualification with victory over Liverpool in their previous home match – and securing a return to Europe's top competition appears increasingly likely to earn head coach Michael Carrick the job on a permanent basis.

He was this week named on a six-man shortlist for the Premier League's Manager of the Season award. He has reportedly now also been endorsed by senior figures within the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are expected to recommend to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that the former Middlesbrough boss is offered a new contract.

Casemiro's Old Trafford farewell

United have lost their final home league game just once in the past 18 seasons and will be keen to ensure veteran midfielder Casemiro bows out on a high in his final home appearance.

The Brazilian, 34, has played a pivotal role for United this season, starting 32 of 36 top-flight fixtures and scoring a career-best nine league goals.

While his departure will free up a sizeable chunk of the club's wage budget to invest in more long-term options, replacing the former Real Madrid star won't be easy.

United have won 54.7% of the matches he has featured in since arriving in 2022, compared to just 38% when he has been absent. They have also scored more goals per game, and conceded fewer, when he has been involved.

In-form Forest savour safety

Elliot Anderson's late goal against his former club Newcastle last weekend earned Nottingham Forest a draw which ultimately proved enough to guarantee survival.

West Ham's defeat by Arsenal a few hours later confirmed they were mathematically assured of their top-flight status with two games remaining.

Vitor Pereira, Forest's fourth head coach of the season, joked on Thursday that he is now able to "sleep properly" but also said the club needs to understand "the things we cannot do again" to reach "the next level".

Pereira has effectively rallied his side during the final two months of the season, with Forest finding consistency when they needed it most to pull clear of the relegation battle.

They are unbeaten in eight league games, the third longest current undefeated run in the top flight – form bettered by only Bournemouth and Manchester City.

The last time Forest enjoyed a longer undefeated streak in a single Premier League campaign was 31 years ago.

Michael Carrick staying on at Manchester United has been a possible outcome since 25 January, 12 days after Michael Carrick was appointed as Ruben Amorim's replacement ahead of former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Carrick had already beaten Manchester City – but Amorim, Solskjaer and others had done that. Despite their reduced status, raising their game against their rivals from across town had not been an issue.

When United beat Arsenal at the Emirates thanks to Matheus Cunha's late goal, it was different, the first hint at Carrick bringing something more substantial to Old Trafford.

For the next three months, the 44-year-old batted away various questions about his future; whether he wanted the job, if he had spoken to the hierarchy about the job, if he was involved in recruitment meetings, whether it was important for potential signings to know who the manager was going to be next season.

At the same time, various candidates for the job were ruled out. Thomas Tuchel signed a contract extension with the Football Association. Carlo Ancelotti moved towards doing the same with Brazil, which is now done. PSG let it be known they were well down the road of agreeing a new deal with Luis Enrique.

Another option, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner became embroiled in a dispute with the ownership of the London club that seemed to be heading towards an exit. Palace had already been beaten by non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup.

All the while, Carrick kept winning matches. Four in a row to start with, six out of seven until a first defeat – at Newcastle – which the club's hierarchy blamed on the players rather than the man in the dugout.

The home defeat by Leeds on 13 April was on the manager, who made a mistake in starting Manuel Ugarte when Kobbie Mainoo was ruled out through injury.

United's response; three successive wins against rivals for a Champions League spot; Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool, answered key questions about Carrick's suitability for the job.

By now, key figures in the dressing room – it started with Amad Diallo during the April training camp in Dublin and was followed by Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount, Senne Lammens and Casemiro – were calling for Carrick to stay.

The evidence was overwhelming.

Ditching Carrick had become a bigger risk than keeping him and shortly United will confirm he has the job.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news that Manchester United have reached an agreement with Michael Carrick to become the club's permanent head coach.

Here are some of your comments:

Andrew: Finally, the club has shown common sense. Carrick is the right person for the job, he knows what it takes to be a United player. Also how the game should be played and how to get the best out of his players. Carrick has stood up to be counted and now it is time for the players to do the same. All the best for what can be a great future for Manchester United.

Anirban: Glad good sense prevailed and performance was rewarded, despite the naysayers. Now back him in the transfer market!

Bo: A mistake but United are damned if they do and damned if they don't! Appoint Carrick and it fails and it's Solskjaer again but don't appoint Carrick and whoever replaces him fails then it'll be "should have appointed Carrick".

Jean: Fantastic and very well deserved. Great stuff.

Mike: Looks a sensible appointment and a sensible contract term. Always had a lot of time for him as a player and he'll go about this job quietly and hopefully successfully.

Hugh: I am pleased for Carrick. He has steadied the ship. Two years is a sensible contract. We now need some sensible investment in players over the summer.

Nigel: I think it was inevitable that Carrick would get the job and he deserves it. Now the hierarchy have to back him with serious money and astute signings to enable him to oversee what will be a much more difficult campaign next season. There needs to be a lot of comings and goings during the transfer window this summer.

Manchester United fans outside Old Trafford say that Michael Carrick being the club's next permanent head coach is the "best decision" and that he has "earned" the job full time.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Michael Carrick to become the club's permanent head coach.

The formal process of exchanging contracts is now under way, with an announcement expected inside the next 48 hours.

As things stand there is some doubt over whether the formalities can be completed before Sunday's match against Nottingham Forest, but there is a will to have it done in time for the club's final home game of the season.

Carrick will sign an initial two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months.

What do you think? Get in touch with your views here

This is a proper dead rubber, with Nottingham Forest safe now, and Manchester United guaranteed a Champions League spot.

That makes it harder to call but United boss Michael Carrick will still be desperate for a strong end of the season and retain the feel-good factor at Old Trafford.

Nottingham Forest won't want to let their season just peter out, either, but the pressure is off them now and, because of that, I am backing United here - this game is more important to them than it is to Forest.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence has joked that danger man Shea Lacey has finally grasped the concept of tracking back at the age of 19.

Lacey has emerged this season as one of the most promising players in United's academy.

The England Under-20 international was a key figure in the 4-3 victory over Manchester City in last week's Premier League 2 play-off semi-final and is one of United's most dangerous attacking options going into Saturday night's final against Brighton at Amex Stadium.

But Lawrence was just as pleased with the work Lacey did defending his own goal at City as with the goal and assist he contributed to the victory.

"When you isolate some of his one-v-one play - his dribbling, dropping the shoulder, twisting and turning - it's really exciting," said Lawrence.

"He's got magic in his feet and is what a Manchester United player should look like.

"I've never seen him run backwards so much [as he did against City]. That was a positive.

"I said to him afterwards it's good that finally, at 19 years of age, he's understood what tracking back actually is."

United are aiming to win PL2 in its new guise for the first time. They last won the old title, based solely on league performance, in 2015-16.

They finished second in the table behind Chelsea on goal difference, while Brighton ended the season in 12th spot.

Lawrence feels goalkeeper Will Murdock could be a key figure in the game.

"Will is quite a calming presence in terms of the way he can take crosses and being reliable when the ball's going into him," he said.

"When you're an outfield player and feel confident with the goalkeeper behind, that obviously really helps the team in terms of giving them a platform."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick has stuck rigidly to the same mantra all the way through his short stint in charge of Manchester United, so there was little chance of him changing his ways in his latest media engagement and outlining whether he will stay at the club.

However, we are getting to the point of no return in the sense there are only two games of the season remaining and only two days before United's final home match of the campaign against Nottingham Forest.

Confirmation Carrick will address supporters on the pitch after the game appears significant.

Clearly, he wants to thank the fans for their support, but it would be odd if there was no clarity on his position before he picks up the microphone.

United fans will be saying farewell to veteran midfielder Casemiro, who will be available. I am not expecting it to be a double goodbye.

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United's interim boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Carrick said his future "is going to be decided pretty soon". He added: "There are two games to go, there's not much else I can say. The situation is pretty clear for us all. Same as. It doesn't change what we are doing this week."

• Carrick explained: "We knew that it was going to be towards the end of the season. Nothing has changed, there is no big swing on that. That is what it is. Whatever is beyond that is pretty close around the corner anyway."

• Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will be available on Sunday, in his last home game as a United player.

• On the midfielder Carrick said: "He's been fantastic for us, for me personally, what he's given us. He is fully invested and fully supported us as staff in the performances he's given. He's had some ups and downs over the years. To finish so strongly and see that connection with the supporters is really good to see"

• Benjamin Sesko is not "100%" and will not be available for Sunday.

• On what it has meant to him being in charge, Carrick said: "I'm immensely proud. As a supporter and ex-player and caring about the club so much, to come back and help and move the club forward was important. To make a big step and get back in the Champions League is good. We're happy with the work we've done so far."

• Carrick has confirmed his intention to address the supporters following the game on Sunday. "I think that's important regardless of the situation [of his contract]. The supporters are a massive part of this club. We thank them - and I certainly thank them - for the season and the support, the last four months for me personally."

• On what he believes the team can achieve in the upcoming years: "You've always got to aim upwards. That's the beauty of football and competition, to achieve something and back it up, improve on things, that's always the challenge. For the players, for the squad, for the whole group, for the club, we want to keep moving in a positive way and in the right direction."

• He added: "The closer you get to the top the less room for progress, but progress is what needs to be aimed for."

• Finally, on assistant coach Steve Holland: "Steve has been fantastic. He's got an awful lot of experience, he's seen everything before. He's a very wise man, he says things that are important at the right time. Steve is in that role where he has the experience to lean on. There's absolutely no shame in that at all."

Hit play above to hear more from Carrick or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Man Utd? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

There's something magical about those seconds before the FA Cup final kicks off. Trumpets and tin-foil trophies, players as tense as the travelling fans, gaffers pacing the dugout in full club suits. The anticipation of a new hero emerging.

Some goals, though, are written in FA Cup folklore, rolled out for every cup final montage - they're the belters, the moments of individual magic, the strikes that sealed shock wins.

I've chosen 10 that make an all-time list and here's a peek at one of them. You can access the full article below to see where I've ranked it.

Norman Whiteside - Man Utd v Everton 1985

The odds were stacked against Manchester United, down to 10 men heading into extra time against an Everton side who were chasing a treble and had already beaten them twice that season.

But in the 110th minute, Mark Hughes threaded a ball into Norman Whiteside's path with the outside of his boot.

The midfielder scrambled down the right, cut in towards the edge of the box on his left and, with a subtle little stepover, created enough room to wrap a curling effort around Toffees defender Pat van den Hauwe and beyond keeper Neville Southall into the far corner.

"Some people have had the audacity to ask if it was a cross!" he later told BBC Radio 5 Live.

See my 10 selections in full