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Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media ahead of Manchester United’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United tomorrow.
One of the important questions to be covered was the fitness of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, who were both forced off the pitch against Crystal Palace due to illness.
Maguire and Shaw
Asked whether the pair will be available for tomorrow, Carrick replied:
“We’re hoping so. We’re working towards it. They weren’t feeling too good. So we’ve still got a bit of time to the game and we’ll just have to see how they feel. So we’ll obviously give them every chance.”
The reporter asked “Is it illness? Neither of them were injured or anything like that.”
“No, it wasn’t an injury,” he replied. “No, they just both weren’t feeling too good. So yeah, it’s one of them things, really. But we’ll just have to see how they are today and tomorrow morning.”
How to keep momentum going
The next question was about how when Carrick was assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there was a superb start then “there was a drop off towards the end of the season. When you were at Middlesbrough, you also did really well at the start and then the results didn’t match that at the end of the season. You didn’t achieve what you wanted to. Is there any way of guarding against that?”
The boss answered:
“Football is a tough game to get results anyway. So I think, yeah, of course, they’re learning. I learn, always learning and things that as you go through, and you could maybe have done a little bit different, done a little bit better, not specifically in them times, just in general, really. So there’s a lot of context and it depends on the players, the group of players, what the games will look like. There’s so many different things coming into it.”
“I think it’s not so much guarding against it. I think it’s just living in the moment and staying in the moment and keep grounded and down to earth in terms of understanding what it takes to win games. I’ve said that since I came here and not getting carried away. We certainly won’t get carried away. I think you’ve got to feed off the confidence and understand that runs of wins are hard to come by, but we’re hungry for more for sure. We need to try and make it as long as it can last and stay consistent.”
Grappling inside the penalty area
Has grappling inside the penalty area gone too far? And does he think anything can be done about it?
The Wallsend man replied:
“I think it’s gone too far. I think it wasn’t long ago where we were told that you couldn’t really lay a hand on anybody in the box. And it was going to be stamped out and clamped down on. And it’s crept in, it’s gone stronger. I think obviously the success of set pieces, corners in particular, probably in terms of being able to put so many bodies close together, has made more teams do it because the success rate is so high. So it’s understandable why there’s so many teams trying it and doing it. But yeah, in terms of as a game, it doesn’t feel that we’ve got that balance right. So I don’t know what to do about it. It’s not for me to decide that, really. But in the meantime, you got to deal with what’s in front of you. And if it’s allowed, then you’ve got to play to it.”
The rich vein of form
The next reporter asked:
“You’re obviously in a confident mood now, you, the players, everything. The fans talk about Champions League qualification. It’s very much in your own hands now, isn’t it? You’ve got 10 games to go and you’ve got to play the likes of Villa Chelsea, Liverpool. That’s a big plus for you, isn’t it?”
He answered:
“Yeah, again, I’m not looking too far ahead in terms of the games and where we’re trying to get to. I think it’s really important that we stay present and keep our minds on the job. It’s an incredibly tough place to go to get a result in Newcastle, been there many times and know it well. So we’re fully aware of that. So we haven’t had conversations about it. We’re not looking too far ahead. We understand this is where we are.”
“I think it was a good step for us at the weekend there. There’ll obviously be a good boost that comes from that, whether that’s energy-wise, whether that’s confidence-wise, and just total belief from it. But it doesn’t mean that we can start ifs and buts further down the line. I think we’re in [the top 3] and we’ve earned it. Boys have earned it, and we’ve got to try and make the most of it from now on in.”
He was then asked if he is surprised “with what this team’s achieved, given it’s the same group of players that were here before?”
Carrick responded:
“I wouldn’t use the word surprise. I think we always strive to win games. And as I’ve just said, understanding it’s difficult. But again, not looking too far ahead. I think if you say, every game is winnable, I think both teams will come into it and think the same thing. If you can say that and go step by step, try and be consistent with it, then we feel we give ourselves a chance to do that.”
“I think coming in at the start, it was quite quickly one game at a time. Again, I think that’s the only way. When you’re in it and you live in it and you’ve got to perform and the boys have got to be in a good frame of mind to be able to put performances together. I think the only way to do it and give yourself the best chance is to stay in the moment.”
“It’s for everybody else to get involved in the discussions maybe of what ifs and buts and bigger picture type of thing. It’s not for us right now. We’re happy. We’re happy with the way things have gone. Still think we can do certain things better, which is a really good place to come from. But winning games is a good feeling, a good habit to have, and got to keep staying hungry with that.”
A reporter then asked: “There was so much discussion before he came in about deep-rooted issues news at the club and so on. When you’ve come in and you’ve worked with this group of players, did you see the signs in there that this run of form was possible?”
He replied:
“Again, I didn’t get too far ahead in terms of what was possible at that stage. We got to get to work quickly and put things into practise and try and be fair to the players to give them the right information and the right balance to go into the next game was the first thing. But yeah, listen, I know some of the players. I know some of the players, or have done more than others. Now I’ve got to know everybody, and I think it’s a really good group. I think talent-wise, ability-wise, I think the boys have shown that what they can do. Then there’s that balance of good habits, good behaviours, and actually looking after each other. In a certain time, you’ve got to really dig in and show that good spirit and team spirit. So I can’t speak highly enough of the players at the moment.”
On Bruno Fernandes
Carrick was then asked how Bruno Fernandes ranks alongside the greats he has played with at United and “how much would you have liked to perhaps play behind him in that little pocket”?
The boss answered:
“I’ll be honest, there’s not loads more I can add to what we’ve already talked about Bruno. He’s been here for such a long period of time now and had success in different ways, and certainly individually shown exactly what he’s all about, in terms of responsibility, showing up, being there, facing everything for the ups and the downs. I think that sums up Bruno as a character and his consistency over such a period of time.”
“In terms of where he ranks in club history, that’s not for me to get involved in. It’s irrelevant. But I think he’s been a major, major plus and a fantastic signing for when he came in and the impact that he’s had since he’s been here. I’m sure that’ll continue.”
Tomorrow’s opponent
Finally, the boss was asked about tomorrow’s counterpart, Eddie Howe.
“Yeah, a huge amount of respect for Eddie and his staff,” he said. “I know some of them particularly well. Obviously, he’s been from there originally and it’s something that I’ve kept a close eye on. He’s done a great job. The levels of success and periods that he’s brought to that football club and the feeling that he’s created around the whole area is incredible. So a top manager, top coach, and he’ll continue having success, I’m sure.”
Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 8.15pm.
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
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