Michael Carrick has hit back at suggestions that Manchester United are a soulless club, saying he has returned to the “magic” at the club’s Carrington training complex.
The former United midfielder returned to the club this week as Ruben Amorim’s successor – having previously also held the role of assistant coach and as interim manager in 2021. The Portuguese left the club after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford.
Carrick will be United’s head coach for the final 17 games of the current Premier League season, starting with the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports at lunchtime on Saturday.
The former Middlesbrough manager becomes the 11th different man to occupy the hot seat at Old Trafford since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. The new managerial change has further fueled fan dissatisfaction with protests planned for next month.
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Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has suggested that the opinions of former players will not put any pressure on his job, insisting he is aware of what needs to change at the club even without their input.
Asked if he felt the club was missing its soul amid the current downturn, Carrick said: “I certainly don’t think it’s missing a soul. I think there’s a magic to this place. I feel it and I feel at home as soon as I walk into the building.”
“The results and the situation may look a little different from the outside, but internally I certainly don’t feel a big difference.
“Part of my role and responsibility is to shape what we want to be as a group going forward. What happens on the pitch, tactically and performance is another thing, but definitely the culture and how we think, how we act, what it means to be here and what it means for us to be here. That’s part of my responsibility to spread it in the right way.”
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Harry Maguire has admitted he is impressed with Michael Carrick and his coaching staff as they prepare for Saturday’s Manchester derby.
Carrick added that the players’ mood was positive and the training ground was in a good location.
“I’ve been back in this role for three days now and there really haven’t been any red flags. The players have been really great.”
“(The players) are willing to listen, willing to learn, want to get better, do better for the club, perform better. That’s how I feel.”
“The support staff and everyone are trying really hard to do well and we need to communicate that.
“Culture is something that happens every day. It’s not about me sitting here and talking about it. Just using a few words here and there makes it sound good.
“It’s how you conduct yourself and what you end up doing every day. It’s something we have to build on, but certainly at the moment we feel like this is a good place to be and the practice field is a really good place.
Saturday, January 17th 11am
12:30pm kickoff
“We need to work with our supporters to make Old Trafford an even better place. That’s the magic of what we’re trying to do.”
