Manchester United must prove their credentials as one of Europe's best clubs as they return to the Champions League next season, so says Paul Pogba.

Michael Carrick turned United's fortunes around after he replaced Ruben Amorim in January.

Carrick won 12 of his 17 Premier League games in charge (D3 L2), recording a 70.6% win ratio.

From Carrick's first game in charge – a 2-1 Manchester derby win on January 17 – no team won more games (12) or took more points (39) than United in the Premier League.

In fact, he had the best points-per-game average of any manager in the Premier League in 2025-26 (2.29). Indeed, it is the best by any United manager in a league season since Alex Ferguson's final campaign in 2012-13 (2.34). 

That form saw United finish third and qualify for the Champions League after several years away from UEFA's flagship club competition, much to the delight of Pogba.

However, the Frenchman says United must now prove themselves all over again.

He told ESPN: "It was good for [Carrick], very good for him and the players. They felt another energy, and that was good for them; that's what they needed.

"They're back in the Champions League next season, and now they're going to have to prove themselves, but for sure it was a good season for them to get back to where Manchester United belong."

Pogba, who left United to join Juventus in 2022, managed just six appearances for Monaco in all competitions across 2025-26, starting only one game and featuring for 115 minutes in total.