Manchester United face Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, in a huge test for Michael Carrick.
Michael Carrick’s second start to life as Manchester United head coach has been about as challenging as he could’ve imagined.
Following just three days of training with his squad, Carrick led United for the Manchester derby as the Red Devils toppled Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with a brilliant performance. The 3-2 comeback win against Premier League leaders Arsenal has given fans even more of a reason to be positive.
Now, Carrick has just one day before his side face off against Marco Silva’s Fulham. Silva has been linked with the United managerial position on multiple occasions, most notably following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal in 2024.
Rúben Amorim was chosen ahead of the former Everton manager, but Silva has continued to impress with his current team; Fulham currently sit seventh in the Premier League, just four points behind the Red Devils.
Unlike City and Arsenal, Fulham are expected to let United control the game and attempt to capitalise on the counterattack, much like Carrick’s tactics for his two wins since his Old Trafford return. As per FotMob, Fulham rank 10th in the Premier League for average possession (51.3%), indicating that they will allow United to dominate the ball while they sit in a mid/low block and soak up the pressure.
Under Amorim, United struggled to break down opposition’s low blocks, despite regularly playing a front five with four attackers – not including Bruno Fernandes, who would’ve played in the double pivot, or Patrick Dorgu, who was considered to be more of a defender in those days, although that may have changed now.
Fulham provide an entirely different challenge for Michael Carrick, who must prove he can overcome Amorim’s struggles on Sunday afternoon if he wants to remain at Old Trafford past the end of the season. He’s already proven he can win the big games; now he must prove he can win every game.
Amorim’s biggest mistake will help Carrick
Kobbie Mainoo hadn’t started a Premier League match until Carrick was appointed head coach. Amorim chose not to play the England international. Instead, he preferred to play Fernandes out of position to accommodate an additional attacking midfielder. This not only limited the United captain, but it left United’s best young talent without a place in the side.
While Amorim hasn’t been the only manager to struggle breaking down a low block at Old Trafford, with the issue dating back to Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s reign, he has been the only one not to use Mainoo when at his disposal.
In theory, playing Fernandes in a deeper role against a low block makes sense, due to his immense passing range, but then you lose the deft passes in behind the defence in the attacking third. But playing Mainoo and Fernandes gives you an entirely new dynamic in midfield.
With Fernandes back in his No.10 position, Mainoo can dictate the play from deep. The opposition will sit off in their defensive structure, while United’s No.37 will keep shifting play from left to right.
When he senses the opportunity, Mainoo will take the onus himself and drive through midfield, leaving players behind him as he does so. This gives United an extra man in the final third, exactly the advantage Amorim was trying to get by playing Fernandes deeper.
Against Fulham, Mainoo will likely start alongside Casemiro, with Fernandes playing just ahead of the double pivot. If City and Arsenal are anything to go by, Mainoo will be given freedom to roam and create across the pitch, while Fernandes will play high and affect the game in the final third.
Amorim’s biggest mistake was never giving Mainoo the opportunity he clearly deserved. He could’ve been the key to unlocking Amorim’s system when in possession. But thankfully for Mainoo, that spell of the club is now over.
Mainoo will help Dorgu’s replacement
Speaking ahead of the Fulham game, Carrick confirmed Patrick Dorgu would be unavailable. “We weren’t sure whether it was cramp or a little more serious. At the moment, it looks a little more on the serious side,” he said on Dorgu’s injury.
“It’s not ideal, of course it’s not,” Carrick continued. “We don’t want to lose good players. That’s part of having a squad – to be able to cover certain things. We have players that can do that.” Carrick could be referring to Matheus Cunha, who switched to the left side after Dorgu’s hamstring problem, scoring a brilliant winner as he did so.
For Cunha’s goal, Benjamin Šeško took the ball down and laid it off to Mainoo. The 20-year-old was positioned close to the centre-forward despite playing as one of the two ‘defensive’ midfielders. He often finds himself higher up the pitch than most expect, not because he’s out of position, but because he’s exactly where he should be – Mainoo understands the position to a tee.
So, if Cunha does start in place of Dorgu, Mainoo will push higher up the pitch and into the left-half-space, the area Cunha likes to take up. The Brazilian will be able to play quick combinations with Mainoo and Fernandes, before darting in behind or finding himself in space, as he so often does.
Mainoo is the key. And Carrick is unlocking the door.
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