Interim coach wants his side to “keep their feet on the ground” but expects to build on City win
Michael Carrick is not getting ahead of himself despite his side’s recent win against Manchester City, and fully expects them to be put to the test against Arsenal.
Manchester United will face the league leaders at the Emirates on Sunday needing a positive result to maintain momentum and confidence, but wary that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal remain the team to beat this season.
“It has been a good week, a big result, a big performance and a big uplift with the feeling inside the stadium,” Carrick said.
“It is finding a balance between getting the encouragement and confidence from the game and performance and keeping level-headed and keeping our feet on the ground.
“We have got another big game coming up. One game does not make you a great team, but it gives us a great foundation to build on.”
Arsenal are seven points clear at the top of the table and have conceded only 14 goals all season, although they have drawn their last two games.
“Looking forward to the game, it’s a big challenge,” Carrick said. “They’re a very good team. They have so many strong points to their game, they are where they are for a reason, we’re fully aware of that.
“We’re in a good place and looking forward to the game. It’s where we want to be, with that energy and enthusiasm to go and be positive.”
It was confirmed this week that midfielder Casemiro will be leaving the club at the end of the season after four years in Manchester. United have relied on the player this season and he is expected to start in midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo at the Emirates on Sunday.
“The Casemiro announcement was for clarity as much as anything,” Carrick said. “It was decided before I arrived – it wasn’t a knee-jerk decision.
“But the type of personality and character he is, it shows with his performance last week where he is mentally and what it means to be here and finish the season strong. I’ve had the conversation with him – he’s desperate to do well and finish well.”
Carrick confirmed that Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, who has been out with a back problem, is still not quite ready to return to the side.
“He had a bit of setback before I arrived, only small but he was a little bit slower than we had liked,” Carrick revealed. “He’s getting closer and hopefully in the next couple of weeks he will be back.”
