Harry Maguire’s private chat with the Manchester United squad about Michael Carrick speaks volumes about Rúben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick’s start as Manchester United’s head coach until the end of the season has been nearly perfect so far after he secured a 2-0 win over Man City just a few days into his reign.
After three days on the training pitch, United’s stars played Pep Guardiola’s men off the park with a stunning and dominant victory that left many wondering about the potential of this team.
Carrick was hired following the sacking of Rúben Amorim, with many stating that the latter’s teams never put enough energy into games.
However, under the English boss, the 90 minutes against City showed the complete opposite, with every single player fighting for the ball, doing their defensive duties, and playing as part of a team.
Maguire’s words to the squad speak volumes
Carrick was hired after both he and Ole Gunnar Solskjær were interviewed for the position, with it widely reported that the former’s calm demeanour and fantastic ideas won him the job over the man he had assisted in the Old Trafford dugout.
According to The Mirror, Carrick was also the popular pick among players, with defender Harry Maguire, who played brilliantly against City, informing the squad in private that United had “re-hired someone with the club’s principles running through his blood.”
Maguire was a trusted player under Amorim, both in defence and in attack, and his seeing Carrick as someone who understood the club’s principles as if they were second nature speaks volumes about what he felt Amorim may have been lacking.
Too often, Amorim was criticised for not acting like a United head coach should, with the 40-year-old playing an unfamiliar formation for United, showing little interest in the club’s Academy, and not protecting his players enough when speaking to the media.
Carrick has done the opposite. IN the week he’s had in charge of the Reds, he’s played a ‘United DNA’ way, attended Academy games, and spoken with poise and calm, putting the club first. It has been a breath of fresh air.
A chance to build after Arsenal clash
After the triumph over City, United will next head away from Old Trafford and down to North London, where they will face league leaders Arsenal, which is very much a free-hit fixture, since no side has won at that ground since May.
But, after the tie against the Gunners is over, there is a real chance for the club to put together a winning run that can stabilise their form and shoot them up the league table.
In February, the club have four games. Firstly, they welcome 11th-placed Fulham to Old Trafford, with a struggling Tottenham Hotspur making a similar journey from London a week later.
Then, United will head back to London themselves to face West Ham just three days after this, with an away fixture against Everton at the end of the month after a 13-day break, following no FA Cup action for the Reds.
March brings ties against Crystal Palace (H), Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), and Bournemouth (A), with some of the dates and kick-off times still TBC.
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