Peter Schmeichel makes bold Man Utd prediction after Aston Villa win

Manchester United can catch City and finish second, says club legend Peter Schmeichel (Picture: Getty)

Peter Schmeichel has confidently backed Manchester United to chase down Manchester City and finish second after the side’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa .

United lay down another marker in their fight for Champions League qualification with a spirited performance against their top-four rivals, but they were made to work for it at Old Trafford.

Ross Barkley cancelled out Casemiro ’s headed opener in the 64th minute to set up a tense finish between the two teams, who began the contest level on points in the Premier League table.

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko both struck to put the Red Devils out of sight in an entertaining second half, though, ensuring the club returned to winning ways following a disappointing defeat at Newcastle previously.

The result further strengthened Michael Carrick’s case for the full-time job and moved United to within seven points of second-placed City, who faltered in a 1-1 draw at West Ham a day earlier.

Bruno Fernandes and Co will look to pick up their eighth win from ten games under Carrick when they travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth on Friday night.

On United’s resurgence in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, Schmeichel said on Viaplay: ‘It’s been painful. We’ve had two periods of 27 and 26 years, hopefully we’re not going to wait that long [for the title].

The Red Devils bounced back from defeat at Newcastle to beat Villa (Picture: Getty)

Carrick has won seven of his opening nine games since replacing Amorim (Picture: Getty)

‘Manchester United have come from not playing very well, not winning games, and then all of sudden, playing better and having some really good games, but getting some points on the board.

‘I’m looking and I’m serious, I think we can catch Man City . I think we can do that.

‘Our form is much better, our winning form is much better.

Casemiro scored his seventh goal of the season in United’s 1-1 draw (Picture: Getty)

‘If you put all of that confidence into the squad, give Michael Carrick the job.

‘Let him pick the players that he wants and I don’t think it necessarily is such a big gap to close.

‘We could be talking one year, two year, three years before they’re competitive.’

Sesko came on and scored United’s third to put the game to bed (Picture: Getty)

Schmeichel implored United to back Carrick with the permanent manager’s position after a ‘fantastic’ start in the Old Trafford hot seat.

‘We’ve tried everything, we’ve tried all the big names, we’ve tried all the guys with the clever systems. We’ve tried all of that!’ the legendary ex-United and Denmark goalkeeper said.

‘Keep it simple. He knows the club and that would be simple for the players.

Carrick has earned the chance to manage United permanently, says Ljungberg (Picture: Getty)

‘At the moment, I’d say there are about 11 players that probably have a really long future at the club so there’s also a really, really big job.

‘We don’t know how good Michael Carrick is at that but what he’s done fantastically well is to take those players that he’s had available and made them play good football.’

Schmeichel’s Viaplay colleague Freddie Ljungberg echoed the Dane’s remarks, claiming Carrick had earned himself an opportunity to lead the club on a permanent basis.

‘We’ve had all these massive managers here. They’ve tried it and it hasn’t worked. Give him the chance! Try it!’ the former Arsenal and Sweden winger said.

‘The quicker they can make the decision, the easier it is.

‘One thing I have to say, compare Igor Tudor with Carrick. He’s talked about, this is the future of the club, this and that, and we had what Tudor did to his goalkeeper [Antonin Kinsky] at 22 years old… that’s not for the future of the club.

‘Carrick is the kind of person you want at your club.’