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Michael Carrick has addressed the media in the embargo portion 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 are still twelve games to go, no distractions at all. Is there now a big chance for this group of players to play Champions League football next season?”
Carrick replied:
“Yes, it’s good that everyone is 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 just said before, which is that now after a few weeks we shouldn’t get too carried away. I think we know where we stand, that 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 need to be, you know, I think there’s a lot of good things to take away and look forward to. But on the other hand, it is up to us and to really bring it into play. And yes, it is possible, it is up to us to take advantage of the opportunity.”
The reporter noted that two years out of Europe’s elite competition is “too long for a club of this size and scope.”
“Yes, of course, that’s where we want to be,” he replied. “This is where we want to be. We’ve had success in this league before and some great experiences in this league. For a lot of different reasons, this is where we want to be. It’s absolutely what we’re aiming for.”
At the academy
The next question was: “You have been very visible at Academy Games in recent months. I saw you speak very passionately about the academy and what it means. How important is it for you to have a visible presence and show the young people that there is a path to the first team when you attend these games?”
The boss replied:
“Yes, it’s hugely important to me. I also think a bit about my upbringing, you know, I came through at West Ham and with Harry as manager at the time and Frank as assistant manager and a big part of that was pathways into the first team and a connection with the first team. Funnily enough, obviously with the support of the Youth Cup, one of my big experiences was playing in the Youth Cup. We were actually playing out of York and it’s quite a way from London. It was on a Tuesday night, Frank Lampard Senior came, his assistant manager, watching and that was something I remember all those years ago.
“I missed a penalty that night too, so I remember that, but it’s that connection and I was brought up for West Ham through that and they were incredible in that and successful in coming to this club and obviously the history and the traditions here. It’s something I’m certainly passionate about. I understand the responsibility and the role I’m in but actually we care about everyone at the club and the academy is such a big part of that. We want players to come through the system and try to get into the first team, be there.”
“So it is important that I and the staff support that as much as possible.”
Previous manager Ruben Amorim was critical of United’s academy and Carrick was asked for his opinion on the matter.
“Yeah, it’s not so much an interpretation of the quote. I think I’ve seen the work that the academy does. My son has been here since he was seven years old and I’ve seen it and I can only say positive things, you know, the experience that he’s had. That’s actually as a parent.”
“So that side of things is a great journey for him, take away the football, just the experiences and the things he’s been through as a young man, actually. And it’s been successful and players in the first team for a long time, you know, almost 90 years, I think, because there wasn’t a youth player in the first team. So it’s a great history and something we should definitely continue to build on.”
The technical staff
A reporter then asked: “How do you feel your coaching setup is working? You have the mix of experience with Steve Holland and younger coaches with Johnny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate, what do they bring to the table individually?”
“They all bring something different,” he replied, “which is actually the ideal scenario, you know, different personalities, different experiences, from different angles, but essentially collaborative, and I think that’s the ingredient. The balance you want to achieve is: it’s great to have different opinions and challenge each other and bring different ideas together, but you definitely have to do it with a real collective feeling.”
“And I’ve been absolutely delighted, I have to say. I couldn’t have asked for more from the staff, from the support they’re giving me to start with, but it’s certainly spread in the way they support the players and hopefully the development and improvement of each individual is a big part of what we’re trying to do.”
Casemiro
The next question was:
“How important has Casemiro been to this set of results, not just on the pitch but perhaps also in the kind of standard that has been set in training, and will that be very difficult to replace that kind of level of that example that he showed?”
Carrick replied:
“Yes, I have to say, Cas has been fantastic since I came here, and he’s been 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 it’s almost a responsibility to be a senior player here and help the younger players, help the rest of the guys and pass on your experiences in a positive way.”
“He has been top in so many ways since I came here and it has been a pleasure working with him. I look forward to working with him for a few more months.”
The reporter elaborated and asked: “He has clearly announced that he will leave at the end of the season. Given the level he is playing at, do you think he could still play at the highest level next season?”
“Yes, I’m sure he can, yes,” Carrick replied. “I’m sure he can, you know, he’s playing at as good a level as he’s been playing for a while, I think, at the moment. It’s great to see, you know, in so many ways. I said the experience, technically, understanding of the game, just calmness in certain moments. So yeah, he’s in a really good place.”
“What are the qualities that the club may need to look for in whoever replaces him?” he was asked.
The Wallsend man replied:
“Yes, listen, it’s an important position, I think. Obviously I’m not biased because I’m in midfield, but I think it’s an important position to connect everything together and you’re connected to the whole team. And that’s sometimes emotional, a little bit mental, and shows a little bit that calmness and understanding of the game. And Cas has had a big influence on that within the group. Something that we are fully aware of and definitely moving forward.”
The next reporter referred to tomorrow’s opposition manager, David Moyes: “You mentioned in your book that David Moyes had difficulty adapting to a club like Manchester United. He brought in more runs and the players were not good at everything he did. Has your experience of Moyes introducing a new group of players shaped your management style now in your career?”
“I think I’ve taken something from every manager I’ve played under,” he replied. “A lot of respect for David and the career is incredible, you know, to be at the top level for so long, 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 that’s experience, you know, we’re talking about Casemiro and the experience that he brings, I think I, I’m obviously in this position for a short period of time, but I think experience If you’ve been involved in football for a long time are, you take positive things, you take some things that maybe you’re not doing that maybe you can improve on, those are just the decisions you make along the way, you know, and I certainly learned a lot from David.
“So don’t run too much during training?” the reporter joked.
“You have to run to play football,” he replied.
Marcus Rashford
Carrick was then asked: “Michael, can I ask you about Marcus Rashford, obviously a former team-mate of yours, and when you were last on the coaching staff he was seen as the future of the club. It looked like he might play his entire career at United. Do you regret that he ever felt the need to leave Manchester United for that challenge?”
The manager replied:
“It’s hard to say, you know, because certain circumstances at certain times that I’m not or haven’t been involved in, it’s difficult for me to comment. I think the fact that he’s come through the academy and had such a big impact here is positive. At the club he’s had some really big moments and good moments and I’ve shared some of them with him in the past, you know, so. Football brings certain things and of course there are certain players that 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 has publicly apologized for his comments. Has he apologized to you and/or the team or spoken to you and/or the team about this?”
“The last time I saw Jim it was Arsenal to be honest and I’m fine with that. I don’t think there’s anything in terms of constant communication from the top down which is my role that I need. I think my role is to create a kind of environment within the group and obviously provide leadership in terms of the first team and beyond. Obviously sitting here now and the supporters are listening, 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 that is undermining, you know. Sir Alex Ferguson was big on everyone in a football club working together, right? You know that far better than anyone in this room. So it might have been useful if you had addressed this directly to the kind of people who represent the club, which is yourself and of course the players.”
“We’re definitely all pulling together, I think. They’ve been around here in recent weeks and around stadiums and certainly in this area. Very close. I think it’s clear that you can be together at some point. So we’re pretty strong as a group to find that,” he replied.
The match against Everton starts tomorrow at 8pm GMT.
For every word from the first part of the press, click here.
Featured image by James Fearn/Getty Images
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