The former Middlesbrough manager might not be expected to make wholesale changes
This Manchester United squad remains a mish-mash of players from several managers, without a clear understanding of what style of football to play.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mainly had a counter-attacking style, relinquishing control of the ball and seeking to strike at the opportune time with quick forwards. Erik ten Hag tried to impose possession-based football and slow build-up play. When sometime afterward he determined he didn’t have the players to do that, he set up the side for a high press and forcing turnovers in the opponent’s third, but this meant that United were vulnerable in transition and shipped loads of goals.
Ruben Amorim came in with a structured 3-4-3 system with two No 10s and full-backs attempting to create overloads in select areas of the pitch. But the counterside was that he lacked some key personnel such as a young, pacy and agile defensive-minded CM, or full-backs with plenty of quality on the ball.
Michael Carrick has 17 Premier League games before the club appoint a permanent coach in the summer, and he has been tasked with securing European football. So what could United expect of Carrick?
The former Middlesbrough manager regularly deployed a 4-2-3-1 at the Championship club. But what stands out is that he favoured a possession-based approach, his side always seeking to create passing options through clever movement.
He also showed the capacity to improve players, such as Chuba Akpom, who became the division’s top scorer before earning a move away, and left-back Ryan Giles, who became one of the most creative full-backs in the Championship.
Carrick has also been praised as an excellent man-manager, which might be one of the most important qualities that an interim will need in such a short space of time as Carrick has at United this season. It’s also worth noting that he might not be expected to make wholesale changes. Generally, keeping United as solid as possible, and then nudging the creative players in the squad, the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Amad Diallo, to produce might just be the best thing for an interim coach to do.
After his Tuesday appointment the 44-year-old urged the squad to pull together and fight for what was left of the season.
“Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honour,” Carrick said. “I know what it takes to succeed here; my focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect at this incredible club, which we know that this group is more than capable of producing.
“I have worked with a number of the players already and have obviously continued to watch the team closely in recent years, I have total belief in their talents, dedication and ability to be successful here. There is still a lot to fight for this season, we are ready to pull everyone together and give the fans the performances that their loyal support deserves.”
