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Michael Carrick has been addressing the media in the embargoed section of the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League match with Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Champions League
The first question was “There’s 12 games left, no distractions at all. Is there a great chance now for this group of players to go on and get Champions League football next season?”
Carrick answered:
“Yeah, it’s good that everyone’s asking that question. It shows that we’ve put ourselves in a good position to start with.”
“I think I’ve gone back to what I’ve just said before really about not getting too carried away now all of a sudden after a few weeks. I think we know where we’re at, we’re in a good position. I’d still like to be in a better position, mind you, but we’re in a good position and we’re positive. I think we should be, you know, I think there’s a lot of good things to take and look forward to really. But then again it’s up to us and putting it into play really. And yes, it’s possible, it’s up to us to take the opportunity.”
The reporter commented that two years out of Europe’s elite competition is “too long for a club of this size and magnitude.”
“Yeah, of course, it’s where we want to be,” he replied. “It’s where we want to be. We’ve had success in this competition before and some great experiences in this competition. For all sorts of different reasons, it’s where we want to be. It’s definitely what we’re pushing for.”
On the academy
The next question was “you’ve been a very visible presence at Academy Games over the last month or so. I saw you speaking very passionately about the academy and what it means. How important is that for you to be a visible presence and kind of show youngsters that there’s a pathway there to the first team when you attend these games?”
The boss replied:
“Yeah, it’s massively important to me. I think a little bit on my upbringing as well, you know, I came through at West Ham and with Harry as manager at the time and Frank as assistant manager and there was a big part of that was pathways to the first team and a connection with the first team. Funnily enough, obviously on the back of the Youth Cup, one of my big experiences was playing in the Youth Cup. We were playing York away actually and it’s a decent stretch from London. It was a Tuesday night and Frank Lampard Senior, his assistant manager, came and watched that and that was kind of something that all them years ago I can still remember.
“I missed a penalty on the night as well so I remember that, but it’s that connection and I’ve been brought up through that for West Ham and they were incredible at doing that and successful coming to this club and obviously the history and the traditions here it’s something that, yeah, I’m definitely passionate about. I understand the responsibility and being in the role I am in but actually we care about everyone at the club and the academy is such a huge part of it that. We want players to come through the system and try and get in the first team, be around it.”
“So it’s important that me and the staff support that as much as we can.”
Previous manager Ruben Amorim was critical of the United academy and Carrick was asked his opinion on the matter.
“Yeah, it’s not so much a take on the quote. I think I’ve seen the work the academy does. My son’s been here since he was seven years old and I’ve I’ve seen it and nothing but positive things to say, you know, the experience that he’s had coming through. That’s as a parent, really.”
“So that side of things is being a great journey for him, take away the football, just the experiences and the things that he kind of lived through as a young man, really. And for a long time, it’s been successful and players in the first team, you know, for nearly 90 years, I think, since there wasn’t an academy player in the first team squad. So it’s great history and something we need to keep building on for sure.”
The coaching staff
A reporter then asked: “How do you feel your coaching setup is working? You’ve got the mix of experience in Steve Holland and younger coaches in Johnny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate, what are they bringing to the table individually?”
“They all bring something different”, he replied, “which is kind of the ideal scenario really, you know, different personalities, different experiences, coming from different angles, but essentially working together, and I think that’s the the, the ingredient, really, the, the balance that you want to get is, it’s great to have different opinions and challenge each other and throw different ideas together, but definitely doing it with a real collective feeling.”
“And I’ve been delighted, I have to say, absolutely. I couldn’t have asked for any more of, of the staff, of, of the support that they give me for starters, but certainly spreading it around in the way they’re supporting the players and, and hopefully development and improving each individual is a big part of what we’re trying to do.”
Casemiro
The next question was:
“How important has Casemiro been over this run of results, not just on the pitch but maybe the kind of standard set in training, and is that going to be very difficult to replace that kind of level of that example that he showed?”
Carrick responded:
“Yeah, I’ve got to say, Cas has been fantastic since I came really, and he’s on and off the pitch, and experience is a great thing if you use it in the right way. And again, I think over time being a senior player here is almost the responsibility of the example and helping the younger players, helping the rest of the boys and passing on your experiences in a positive way.”
“He’s been top since I came in so many ways and he’s been a pleasure to work with. I look forward to continue working with him for a few months yet.”
The reporter probed deeper, asking “He’s obviously announced that he’ll be leaving at the end of the season. Do you think that the level that he’s playing at, he could be playing at the very highest level still next season onwards?”
“Yeah, I’m sure he can, yeah,” Carrick answered. “I’m sure he can, you know, he’s playing as good a level as he’s played at for some time, I think, at the moment. It’s great to see, you know, in so many ways. I said the experience, technically, game understanding, just composure in certain moments. So yeah, he’s in a really good place.”
“What are the qualities the club might have to look for for whoever replaces him?” he was asked.
The Wallsend man replied:
“Yeah, listen, it’s an important position, I think. I’m not being biased, obviously, as being in midfield, but I think it is an important position to try and tie everything together and you’re connected to the whole team. And that’s sometimes emotionally, a little bit mentally, and showing that composure and understanding of the game a little bit. And Cas has had a big influence within the group on that. Something we’re fully aware of and moving forward for sure.”
The next reporter referred to tomorrow’s opposition manager David Moyes: “You mentioned in your book that David Moyes struggled to adapt to a club like Manchester United. He brought in more running and the players didn’t take well to everything that he had did. Has your experience of Moyes’ introduction to a new group of players, has that framed your way of managing now in your career?”
“I think every manager that I’ve played under, I’ve taken something from,” he replied. “A lot of respect for David and the career is incredible, you know, to be at the top level for such a long time is I fully respect that and he’s a good man. So I’m not surprised by the fact that he’s come back to Everton and done so well again, you know, so it’s that’s experience, you know, we’re talking about Casemiro and the experience he brings, I think me, I’m obviously in this position for for a short period of time, but I think experience being around football for a long time, you take positives, you take some things that you might not do and you might improve on, that’s just the decisions that you take along the way, you know, and certainly I learned a lot from David.”
“So not too much running in training?” the reporter joked.
“You’ve got to run to play football,” he answered.
Marcus Rashford
Carrick was then asked: “Michael, can I ask you about Marcus Rashford, obviously a former teammate of you, and when you were last on the coaching staff, he was kind of seen as the future of the club, It looked like he could maybe play his entire career at United. Do you find it a shame that he ever felt the need to leave Manchester United for that challenge?”
The manager replied:
“It’s difficult to say, you know, because certain circumstances at certain times that kind of I’m not, or haven’t been involved in, it’s difficult for me to comment, really. I think the fact he’s come through the academy and had such a big impact here is a positive and at the club he’s had some really big moments and good moments and I’ve shared some with him in the past, you know, so. Football throws up certain things and obviously certain players you can’t stay here forever and things happen that’s how it is you know.”
The next question was about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration:
“Michael, Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered an apology publicly about his comments. Has he apologised to you and or the squad or spoken to you and or the squad about this?”
“I’ve, last time I’ve seen Jim was Arsenal to be honest and I’m fine with that. I don’t think there’s anything really in terms of constant communication from above that are kind of my role that I need. I think my role is to kind of create the environment within the group and obviously lead in terms of the first team and beyond that, obviously sitting here now and the supporters listening in, that’s part of my role too and I’m fully aware of that but I don’t necessarily need it from [him].”
He was pressed: “Your role is to lead, but something like this kind of undermines, you know. Sir Alex Ferguson was massive on everyone in a football club pulling together, right? You’ll know that far better than anyone in this room. So it might have been helpful maybe if you sort of addressed this directly to the sort of very people who represent the club, which is yourself and obviously the players”
“We’re definitely all pulling together, I think, they’ve been in around here and being in around stadiums in the last few weeks and certainly in this environment. Quite closely. I think it’s clear as you could ever be is pulling together. So we’re pretty strong as a group to find that,” he answered.
The match against Everton kicks off at 8pm GMT tomorrow.
For every word of the first part of the presser, click here.
Featured image by James Fearn/Getty Images
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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