Man Utd’s executives have set an ambitious target of winning the league in 2028 when they will celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary.

Michael Carrick believes Manchester United can achieve their ambition of winning the Premier League title in the next two years, but only if everyone at the club understands the hard work that will be required to get there.

United launched ‘Project 150’ under Ineos, with chief executive Omar Berrada explaining to staff in September 2024 that the aim was to be back on top in the Premier League in time for the club’s 150th anniversary in 2028.

A number of missteps since then have made it look a more ambitious target, but United headed into this weekend third in the Premier League after a run of 19 points from a possible 24 under Carrick, and on course to at least return to the Champions League next season.

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They are 16 points behind leaders Arsenal this term, although they do have a game in hand, and the recent form under Carrick has shown the potential within the squad ahead of another key transfer window, when revamping the midfield will be a major focus.

Carrick has shown over the last two months that he isn’t going to get carried away or look too far ahead, but as much as he relishes the battle to qualify for the Champions League this season, he would love to be focusing on grander ambitions.

“You’ve got to take it step by step, I think,” he said. “Certainly we want to keep improving and we want to keep moving up the table. At the moment, being where we are, it’s an exciting time because we’ve got something to play for.

“We’d love to be playing for something a little bit more, a little bit higher, and really challenging for leagues. There’s no way you can just say it’s going to happen and assume it’s going to happen.”

Ineos set out their 2028 ambition not long after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority investment into the club was confirmed. For a long time under Ruben Amorim, it seemed a distant dream, especially when United limped to 15th last season.

But Carrick has brought a renewed sense of optimism to Old Trafford and as a five-time Premier League winner as a player for United, he knows what it takes to come out on top.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to go into that and a lot of things that need to be put in place to achieve that,” he said. “It’s tough to win the Premier League and we understand that, but certainly we are definitely working towards it, we feel that’s where we want to be.

“We have been in the past and we want to get there again, but it’s certainly just not straightforward and I think we all understand that, but we’re certainly hungry to do it.”