Two Manchester United defenders have revealed what training is like under Michael Carrick, with Jonny Evans playing a key role.
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna regularly took training sessions alongside Mike Phelan. While Carrick doesn’t have McKenna or Phelan in his coaching staff this time around, the former England international does lead the training sessions with help from his own team.
Manchester United now employs Steve Holland and Johnathan Woodgate as assistant coaches. Holland worked with Carrick at UEFA, alongside Solskjær, while Woodgate was a key member of Carrick’s coaching team during his time at Middlesbrough. The experienced duo are accompanied by Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion.
Evans began the season as the Loan Manager, following his retirement from professional football. The central defender oversaw several impressive loan moves, including Harry Amass’ loan to Sheffield Wednesday, Radek Vitek’s move to Bristol City and Jack Moorhouse’s switch to Leyton Orient.
Binnion, however, was the under-21s manager, but was promoted to the first team when Darren Fletcher took interim charge of the team. Unlike Fletcher, who has since returned to his under-18s role as seen on Friday evening, Binnion will remain in Carrick’s coaching team until the end of the season. Adam Lawrence – former United U18s coach – will take charge of the U21s until the end of the current campaign after leaving his role at Newcastle United.
It’s been a big shake-up since Amorim’s coaching staff left the club, but it seems to be a step in the right direction. Ayden Heaven and Harry Maguire have revealed what training is like on the latest episode of Inside Carrington.
Heaven and Maguire reveal training details
“Yeah, it’s really good,” said Heaven when asked about training under the new coaching staff. “Jonny [Evans] especially, he’s been helping me a lot. Me and Leny [Yoro], after some of the sessions, we go to do extras and just work on that, you know, the basics.”
Heaven and Yoro have both been out of the side under Carrick, but have shown impressive form under Amorim and Fletcher. They will be hoping to get back into the side, and putting in more hours on the training ground will only help their case.
“And even between drills, during their sessions,” said Heaven. “They’re always pulling me to the side and helping me on my positioning. I’ve enjoyed it so far. They’re a big help.”
Maguire was asked more about Carrick’s impact on the training sessions: “He takes most sessions. He still does demos in passing drills, and he still bangs it through the lines like he’s still got it.
“He was doing the demos the other day, and I think he did two passes. Everyone did about 300. I think his two were the best I’ve seen out of them all!”
Perhaps Carrick needs to lace up his boots and find some shin-pads for a training match to see some of his current squad exactly what he’s looking for, although United have been much better since Carrick too charge. Having a player of his quality leading the side could be exactly what the current crop needed.
Carrick’s reputation precedes him
When Carrick was announced as head coach until the end of the season, some players would have been looking forward to reuniting with their former teammate or coach. Luke Shaw played with Carrick for several years, while Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Maguire and Tom Heaton would have all been coached by him before. But no matter their pre-existing relationship, all will remember how good a player Carrick was.
Yes, when Solskjær was in charge, some players would have remembered his talent, but Carrick is known as one of the best defensive midfielders of the modern era. The era that all of United’s squad would have grown up watching, or played in themselves. He commands respect.
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Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal would’ve commanded respect, but in a different way. They would have been seen as older statesmen who have won it all, but can’t relate to the playing squad – Carrick has won it all and can relate to the squad. That’s a special combination.
Perhaps Carrick is the coach United have been looking for all along. Or perhaps this is just another good interim spell. Only time will tell.
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