Manchester United performed well in the three matches of the new season, and Carrick's offensive tactics greatly satisfied the Manchester United fans.
The young coach temporarily shed the pressure of public opinion, and the team was still making final efforts before the transfer window closed.
Bayern's Matthijs de Ligt and Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni were both Carrick's targets.
However, the presence of four key players in Manchester United—Pau Torres, Varane, Lisandro Martínez, and Niklas Süle—made the transaction difficult.
In his first year coaching Manchester United, Carrick did not make drastic reforms, as maintaining dressing room stability was also a crucial consideration for the coach.
On August 30, 2025, Manchester United returned to Old Trafford to face the challenge from Brentford.
As the team's chemistry improved, Manchester United secured a resounding 6-1 victory at home.
Brentford's three-man defense tightly marked Gao Nuo, coupled with constant harassment from the defensive midfielder, leading to Gao Nuo being substituted in the 63rd minute of the match.
Not scoring a goal did not mean Gao Nuo made no contribution.
In 63 minutes, Gao Nuo delivered 6 key passes and secured 3 assists, fully demonstrating his role as a central pivot.
Alejandro Balde scored his first goal for Manchester United.
Antony, who started the match, scored two goals.
Neymar and Garnacho, who came on as substitutes, each scored a goal.
Captain Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty.
Under Carrick's leadership, Manchester United's offense was once again as sharp as a blade.
The team's excellent performance created a harmonious atmosphere in the dressing room.
Rashford no longer worried about the central position.
Neymar, with age, became more detached from worldly concerns.
Bruno Fernandes's influence in the dressing room was stable and unshakeable.
Gao Nuo's growth meant people no longer saw him as a greenhorn, especially the young players in the team, many of whom already regarded Gao Nuo as a role model.
Amidst the joyous atmosphere, only one person was unhappy.
Abraham was having a tough time; without Arnold's protection, his position in the team was very awkward.
When Gao Nuo was not on the field, Carrick preferred to push Rashford to the center-forward position, giving Garnacho more playing opportunities.
For no other reason than, in Carrick's view, Abraham was not pure enough about football and lacked a bit of professional quality.
In Arnold's office, Abraham sat dejectedly on the sofa.
The hot secretary brought coffee, and Abraham merely took it without much thought.
This surprised the hot secretary. “What’s wrong with this Tammy? Every time he takes coffee from me, he takes the opportunity to touch my hand. Why is he so down today? His usual lecherous gaze is gone? Is it because I’ve been wearing too much lately? Not hot enough?”
The secretary left the office with a puzzled look, not forgetting to pull her skirt up a bit.
Arnold spoke first, “Tammy, what can I do for you?”
Abraham got straight to the point, “Mr. Arnold, I followed your instructions and caused some trouble in the dressing room. Now Erik ten Hag has indeed been sacked. What about your promise to me?”
Arnold frowned, “Tammy, I think you should know that I cannot interfere with the team's roster planning right now.”
Abraham became anxious, “This is unfair! Carrick has already sidelined me because of the previous incidents. If you can’t fulfill your promise, I’ll leak these things to the media!”
With a thud, Arnold slammed his cup on the table, “Enough! Is this my problem? If you’re truly resentful, you should know that it’s all that China Team kid’s fault!”
Abraham was not easily intimidated and retorted without backing down, “You’ve had enough! Gao Nuo is loved by everyone in the team, and his speeches have impressed me. You’ve been lying to me from the start!”
Arnold slammed his hand on the table, “Shut your damn mouth! When did I lie to you? Last season you got enough playing time, and now these things have nothing to do with me!”
Abraham was furious, “You told me that there was a China Team kid with no ability, relying on commercial value to stay in the team! You said Manchester United was going to clear him out, just needing a suitable reason, but that’s not the truth! You lied to me!”
Arnold sat in his boss chair, his expression fluctuating.
Abraham spoke until his throat was dry, chugging the coffee in one go, still seething with anger.
Arnold slowly calmed down, “Listen, Tammy, I can help you contact Paris Saint-Germain. They have a need for a center-forward, and you will get a big contract and enough playing time.”
Abraham was in a dilemma. For him, staying at Manchester United might bring more honors, but Gao Nuo's starting position was unshakeable.
With Mbappé leaving on a free transfer, Paris Saint-Germain sold many players to recoup funds, and the team's strength and influence in European football were far inferior to Manchester United's.
Abraham was momentarily caught in a difficult situation.
The silence did not last too long.
“I’ll give you an answer tomorrow. Don’t try to deceive me again!”
Abraham dropped a sentence and left the office.
Arnold was infuriated by this rude behavior, his chest heaving up and down. The sensible hot secretary came in and, with a charming demeanor, began to massage his shoulders.
On September 1, 2025, the Premier League summer transfer window was about to close.
The deals for Matthijs de Ligt and Alessandro Bastoni were deadlocked.
Throughout the transfer window, Niklas Süle and Varane did not receive satisfactory offers, and both expressed understanding of the team's desire to clear them out.
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Niklas Süle and Varane were both entering the final year of their contracts, and their age made them particularly cherish the opportunity for one last big contract.
Finally, before the transfer window closed, both players successively announced that they would fulfill the remainder of their contracts and would leave Manchester United as free agents at the end of the season.
After comprehensive consideration, Carrick did not make a decision that would affect dressing room unity and postponed the plan to sign a center-back for a year.
This decision earned Carrick more support among the players.
Abraham did not burn his bridges with Arnold.
After another communication with Carrick, Carrick gave a clear answer.
“I know you have enough ability, but I’m sorry, you are no longer in my plans.”
Abraham, confirming he had no future at Manchester United, chose to let Arnold push for the Paris Saint-Germain transfer.
Two hours before the transfer window closed, Manchester United finally officially announced the last transfer of the summer.
“Abraham has joined Paris Saint-Germain for a transfer fee of 55 million euros. Tammy made many contributions to Manchester United during his brief tenure. Thank you for your efforts, and we wish you all the best in the future.”
In Carrick's first transfer window since taking office, although Manchester United had ample funds, their performance in terms of signings was only average.
As the season progressed, Carrick would have another chance to make adjustments in the winter transfer window four months later.
Gao Nuo returned to the National Football Team immediately when the international break arrived.
On September 4, 2025, in the 4th round of the World Cup qualifiers in Asia, China Team VS Thailand.
The vast majority of fans expected the China Team to win easily, but the result was infuriating.
In the first half, Gao Nuo found himself isolated, and the entire China Team seemed to be sleepwalking, with a lack of passing chemistry and insufficient active running.
The China Team, with Gao Nuo as its 'nuclear weapon' but playing poorly, trailed Thailand 0-2 in the first half.
Zhan Jun, commentating on the match, was speechless and could only focus his commentary on what adjustments the head coach would make at halftime.
The live stream was filled with curses.
I Don't Watch the National Football Team: “If they play like this, it’ll be a miracle if they qualify!”
National Football Team Can’t Be Criticized: “Can’t be criticized my ass! If Gao Nuo hadn’t single-handedly taken on their entire defense in the first half, the National Football Team wouldn’t even have had a shot on goal!”
GNNO.1: “Gao Nuo is wasted! This is 1 VS 21, damn it!”
Old Fan 135: “You can’t say that. There’s still a chance in the second half.”
Can’t Watch Anymore: “Are people still defending the National Football Team? The third round was indeed played well, but why aren’t those young players being used? Is the coach an idiot?”
Under the Lights: “Who knows? What kind of garbage are these old players playing? They aren’t even running, damn it!”
Damn National Football Team: “Gao Nuo can’t save them, 48 spots can’t save them. The National Football Team is still the National Football Team, trash!”
Redwood Tree: “Screw the head coach! I waited four years, and he plays with fire at the last moment!”
Amidst the curses, the second half of the match began.
National Football Team coach Jankovic finally woke up, making three substitutions at halftime: Hu Hetao, Ai Feierding, and Wang Xiaochuan came on as substitutes.
During halftime, Gao Nuo unceremoniously berated the entire team, offending all the veteran players.
Fortunately, in the second half, Wang Xiaochuan and Ai Feierding provided Gao Nuo with sufficient support.
The China Team's offensive focus was entirely on the left flank.
In the 55th minute of the match, Ai Feierding broke through on the left, creating space before passing the ball to the center.
Gao Nuo received the pass without adjustment, putting all his anger into his foot, and unleashed a powerful shot.
The Thai goalkeeper stood frozen in front of the goal, letting the ball fly into the net. The shot was so powerful that it left the Thai goalkeeper traumatized.
In the 62nd minute of the match, Wang Xiaochuan intercepted the ball in the backfield and unhesitatingly sent a long pass towards the front.
Gao Nuo's anger had not yet dissipated, and he revved the engine to maximum, the red sports car speeding across the international field.
Dribbling past the last defender, Gao Nuo unleashed a furious shot.
The Thai goalkeeper had not yet recovered from the previous trauma, and his charge was sluggish, ultimately watching the ball enter the net.
Scoring two goals in 7 minutes, Gao Nuo roared on the sidelines, greatly boosting the morale of the China Team fans who had come to cheer them on.
In the 82nd minute of the match, Gao Nuo completed a steal in the front field, breaking through all the way to the edge of the penalty area.
The Thai goalkeeper bravely used his body to block this time, but Gao Nuo did not insist on a hat-trick, passing the ball to the left side of the goal.
Ai Feierding received the ball with some surprise, his footwork was a bit off, but fortunately, the final shot was without incident.
After 90 minutes, the China Team, trailing by 2 goals in the first half, completed a comeback in the second half under Gao Nuo's leadership.
Ultimately, China Team defeated Thailand 3-2, securing a hard-fought first victory.
