Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko (R) celebrates with Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha (top R) and teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 15, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
London: Manchester United bolstered their bid to qualify for the Champions League with a vital 3-1 win against top-four rivals Aston Villa on Sunday.
Michael Carrick's side took the lead through Casemiro's second-half opener at Old Trafford before Ross Barkley hauled Villa level.
United finished strongly, with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko scoring in the closing stages to seal Carrick's seventh win in nine games since taking over as interim boss.
Sitting third in the Premier League, United are three points clear of fourth-placed Villa in the race to reach the Champions League via a top-four finish.
United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe this week praised Carrick's "excellent" work, but stopped short of committing to the former Old Trafford star on a long-term basis.
But Carrick making a strong case to earn the job on a permanent basis after stabilising United following Ruben Amorim's sacking.
United's latest victory came after an 11-day break since the first defeat of his reign at Newcastle and Carrick celebrated with a jig of delight on the touchline after Sesko wrapped up the points.
Spluttering Villa have lost their last three league games and have just one win in seven top-flight matches, leaving them three points above fifth-placed Chelsea with eight games left in the battle for European places.
