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Michael Carrick has spoken to the media ahead of tomorrow night’s Premier League match against West Ham at the London Stadium.
Manchester United’s interim manager wants to make it five wins in his first five games, but faces a tough test in an away match that is often a unwanted surprise over the years.
Clean sheets
Carrick was first asked what he did defensively to help United keep a clean sheet. He must be happy with the win against Spurs?
He replied:
“Yes, it’s definitely nice. I think it’s a lot…easier to win games without having to score so many goals every week. We seem to be a team that can cause a lot of problems, create chances and score goals, so it’s definitely a good balance.”
“There are still things that can be improved. It’s certainly something we’ve been focusing on, to try to be better collectively as a team when we don’t have the ball. But in three or four weeks we’re not going to be able to fix everything and suddenly look perfect. So that’s a bit of understanding. But I think the boys responded very well to what we asked them to do. And the clean sheet, just like today, the clean sheet was important for us.”
To Tuesday’s opponents
The next question was: “What challenge does a team like West Ham pose to you? Obviously they are fighting against relegation to the bottom of the table. Is it a different challenge to tackle?”
Carrick replied:
“I think you have to go into the game and understand the situation of both teams. We have tried to paint that picture to the players in every game we have played so far, and on Tuesday night it will be the same. The type of game, the feel of the game, what skills we will have to try to utilize, different games, they bring different things.”
“Certainly, teams at the bottom of the league are really fighting for things, but so are we. We have to fight for it. You’d like to think that this is balanced in a way, and it’s who can come out on top in the end. But of course we’re fully aware of what we’re getting into on Tuesday night and how difficult it will be.”
What does he think of West Ham under Nuno Espirito Santo?
“It’s this bit of change. I think injuries have also made it difficult,” he replied. “I think they are very good in transition, very dangerous. I have some very good attacking players. We have already looked at them and have an idea of that, just like they would have done for us. But yes, they are a threat. They are a threat. When they get going at home, they are a dangerous team. We certainly have to be ready to handle all that.”
Don’t get carried away
The BBC’s Simon Stone then asked:
“You’ve said at almost every press conference that you don’t get carried away. You don’t allow people to get carried away. When you took over at Middlesbrough, you won a lot of games. There were a few defeats, but you won a lot of games. Is there anything from that period that you can learn about this period and stay focused and keep your eye on the next game and not get carried away? Because it’s easy to say.”
The boss replied:
“It’s very easy to say. Listen, part of it is you have to enjoy the thrill of winning, right? You have to. That’s what we do it for. You have to control the highs of it and enjoy it. Initially, the feeling of winning a match. You can’t just be down all the time. But going into the next match, you have to regroup and get ready again for the next match. But you definitely take the confidence and the feeling from the games you’ve had, knowing that you’re going with a a little more feel-good factor to the next game.
“But I think the big challenge is knowing what got you there and all the hard work and the preparation and what it takes to win a football match at this level is tough. So never assume that the next one is just going to be good. But you still have to allow yourself to feel a little bit of emotion because it would be a bit boring and pointless if you didn’t really do that, to be honest. Winning games is what we all strive for. The boys have been good at it. They’ve done that really well though. and achieved the pinnacle of victory. Come back to training and focus on the next one.”
“But you didn’t do what your own manager used to do?” Stone asked. “Give the players a – even if they won a game?”
“There’s a time and a place for everything, Simon,” he replied.
Comments by Bruno Fernandes
The next question was:
“Bruno said on TV after the game that you remember what he said to you the last time you were manager, that you would be a great manager and he still believes that. Do you remember what he said to you about that last time? How does it feel to hear someone like that talk about you in that way?”
The Wallsend man replied:
“I’ve known Bruno for a while. I know him quite well. I saw him occasionally, when I left the club and bumped into him sometimes. So I have a very good relationship with him. I understand how much… he is a very intelligent footballer. He’s smart. He cares a lot about this club. So in that aspect, we all want the same thing.”
“So of course it’s nice when players you respect, like I do a lot with Bruno, say good things about you. But at the end of the day it’s about the team, getting the best out of the team. Basically it’s all working together. Time will tell. It’s not about judging how good or successful at the moment because nothing has really happened yet. We’ve hopefully got a lot more to do between now and the end of the season and see what happens next.”
Injury update
The manager was then asked about team news for the game against West Ham.
“Mason [Mount] probably won’t be [be ready] for Tuesday, probably after that, but he’ll definitely go to the Everton game, he’ll be back. Mat [de Ligt]we’ll see how he develops over the course of the… The game against Everton feels a long way off at the moment. We’ll see how he develops, but he’s positive. He’s going in the right direction, but Mason is a little closer to the game.”
The next reporter asked Carrick about the “United Strand” fan who has pledged not to cut his hair until United win five in a row.
“I can say that I am aware of it. My children certainly made me aware of it,” he smiled. “But it certainly won’t be included in the team discussion at a professional level, but I can understand what’s going on. It makes me smile, but ultimately it won’t have an impact.”
Creative freedom
A reporter then noted the freedom of movement that Carrick seemed to offer his front four.
“Yes, within reason, as long as we fulfill the roles well;” he said. “I mean, it’s not a free-for-all where you can go and decide. It’s kind of where you end up. Bruno is the type where he understands the different roles and plays them exceptionally well. Bryan [Mbeumo] has done very similar things. To be fair, so does Matheus, who sometimes plays through the middle, sometimes from the left. So it gives us variety. I think they are all suitable for different roles. Amad is probably more naturally broad. So that’s a little more predictable, if you will. But the flexibility certainly helps, as long as we pay attention to the positions when we don’t have the ball.”
Tuesday’s match starts at 8.15pm GMT.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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