Michael Carrick has returned to Manchester United as interim manager with a clear task: stabilise the side, meet Old Trafford’s expectations, and unlock the full attacking potential of players like Matheus Cunha.
Michael Carrick steps into the role at a familiar club during another period of flux, with United seeking short-term clarity rather than long-term reinvention.
His appointment reflects a desire for calm direction after instability, with the emphasis firmly on structure, control and performance level.
While results will ultimately define his spell, Carrick’s immediate challenge is aligning strong underlying output with more consistent end product. United have regularly looked threatening this season without always translating dominance into goals.
That disconnect places renewed focus on attacking roles and relationships. How Carrick organises United in possession – and how he positions his most influential attackers – will shape whether performances begin to match the data.
Carrick’s transitional strength and structural clarity
Carrick’s managerial reputation was forged in the Championship, a division where adaptability is essential. When he took over at Middlesbrough in October 2022, the club sat 21st, with a lack of confidence and cohesion.
By the end of the season, they had surged into the play-off places, a turnaround built on consistent performance.
That experience matters at United. Carrick has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to steady teams quickly, prioritising balance over stylistic ambition. Middlesbrough’s revival came with minimal preparation time, underscoring his ability to manage transitional phases.
Tactically, Carrick favours structure without rigidity. While normally deploying a 4-2-3-1, his sides often shaped a 3-2-5, with one full-back advancing and the other tucking into a back three. This created width, numerical superiority between the lines, and consistent access to attacking zones.
The benefit of that approach lies in its repeatability. Players operate within clear reference points, allowing patterns to develop quickly. For a United squad in need of rhythm, Carrick’s preference for positional clarity could restore control without stifling creativity.
Unlocking Cunha within United’s attacking framework
United’s attacking metrics indicate a side doing many things right. As of late December, they ranked first in the Premier League for shots, shots on target and chances created, while sitting second for expected goals. The issue has not been volume, but efficiency and connection in decisive moments.
That context is important when assessing Matheus Cunha. His performances have often been effective, even if not reflected in goals or assists. Cunha has carried the ball, taken risks and driven United forward, even when his contributions have not shown up in traditional output.
In a deep dive into how Carrick’s football could thrive at United, The Athletic noted that United’s average successful take-ons in the final third dropped dramatically to 6.6 per 90 minutes under Amorim.
They note that Carrick is keen to give his attacking players complete freedom in the final third, which will be particularly helpful for both Fernandes and Cunha.
Rather than a form issue, the problem appears positional. Cunha has frequently operated in pockets where his influence is felt during the buildup but diluted near the goal. Carrick’s use of narrow attacking midfielders and roaming forwards could help reposition Cunha closer to central zones during sustained attacks.
There is precedent for that thinking. Under Darren Fletcher’s brief spell in charge, United deliberately increased their central focus, with Benjamin Šeško being found 53 per cent of the time compared to 31.9 per cent previously. That adjustment reflected a conscious effort to prioritise key attackers – a principle Carrick is likely to build upon.
Old Trafford’s expectations also loom large. The familiar chants of “attack, attack, attack” speak to a demand for intent, but Carrick has already alluded to those expectations.
Read More: Julien Nagelsmann’s thoughts on Man Utd summer appointment revealed amid Oliver Glasner ‘doubts’
Speaking on the inside Carrington podcast, he said: “Hopefully, we can play a really exciting type of football and be positive and express and bring excitement. I want to be off my seat. I want to be enjoying watching the boys play, and results obviously need to come with that.
“You can feel my kind of enthusiasm for it, because I’m buzzing to get started and see what we can do.” Those words suggest alignment with the crowd’s appetite, tempered by structure.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.