Five changes Carrick has made to spark Man Utd’s season
We look at Carrick’s impact at Old Trafford with the Red Devils unbeaten in five matches since he took charge.
Football writer Sam Cunningham analyzes the key changes Carrick has made to transform Manchester United’s fortunes and strengthen their top-four finish.
Michael Carrick has enjoyed an impressive debut at Manchester United, overseeing five matches without defeat to boost the club’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The United head coach won each of his first four games – against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur – after taking over from Ruben Amorim early last month.
That winning run ended against West Ham United in United’s last game, but Benjamin Sesko’s equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time maintained Carrick’s unbeaten start.
Carrick’s exploits earned him the Barclays Manager of the Month award for January.
Here are five key changes he made to galvanize United’s season.
Restore identity
United fans crave the direct, attacking football that defined the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and Carrick – who played under the legendary former manager – comes close.
Comparing his five games to former head coach Amorim’s 20 this season, Man Utd produce almost double the number of direct attacks and 50% more fast breaks per game, while playing 21 extra passes into the final third every 90 minutes.
As a result, they create more big chances, have more shots on target and win the ball higher up the pitch, with 8.4 high turnovers per game compared to Amorim’s 7.2.
He restored some of the old fire at Old Trafford in the three home wins – against Man City, Fulham and Spurs – and produced an unbeaten start under Carrick.
Watch: Carrick Ball at full throttle
Playing Fernandes as number 10
A crucial part of Carrick’s free-flowing and dynamic football was unleashing the talents of Bruno Fernandes.
After taking charge, Carrick immediately moved Fernandes out of the deeper, fixed midfield role he occupied in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, pushing the Portuguese further behind the striker and giving him the freedom to unleash his abundance of creativity.
Watch: Every Bruno Fernandes goal and assist under Carrick
“Bruno can just create moments,” Carrick told Owen Hargreaves. TNT Sports. “He’s brilliant. I think that little bit of freedom suits him, he’s got a natural (footballer’s) brain.”
Carrick puts a lot less pressure on Fernandes to return, leaving the bulk of the defensive work to Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo.
“Knowing him for a long time, what his skills are, his attributes, he’s creative, so let him be creative in the right places,” Carrick added.
The tactical adjustment brought immediate feedback. Fernandes has five goals in his first five games under Carrick, including four assists and a goal in the win over Spurs.
Reintegrate Mainoo
Another major change from Amorim’s approach was the restoration of Mainoo to the starting XI – a move that worked on several levels.
It was a move many fans wanted to see as Mainoo sat on the bench under Amorim. This reconnected the first team to Man Utd’s famous academy and added much-needed control and passing fluidity to central midfield.
Mainoo was the perfect springboard for Man Utd’s quick escapes.
Starting from zero this season under Amorim, the 20-year-old has started all five of Carrick’s games.
“I’m not putting it all on Kobbie’s shoulders, he’s doing very well at the moment and I’m sure he will continue to be,” Carrick told United’s official website. “We want more of that. We want more players to come through the system and get into the first team.
“For me, there is no better feeling than giving young players a chance. He has taken that chance in recent weeks and, as I said, I am sure he will continue to do so.”
Deploy Mbeumo as an attacker
One change that piqued curiosity was playing forward Bryan Mbeumo as the sole striker in the first three games.
When asked why, Carrick replied “he has an eye for goal” and “his moves are really good”, and highlighted his close links with Fernandes.
Watch: Mbeumo completes his epic turn routine
But Carrick has also faced Mbeumo on the left and benefits from the interchangeability and versatility of his attackers.
Mbeumo has three goals and one assist in Carrick’s five games – two goals as a centre-forward and one goal and one assist from the wing.
Solid foundations
Attacking, easy-to-watch football was built on solid defensive foundations.
Harry Maguire was reinstated into the team – starting all five of Carrick’s matches after falling out of favor under Amorim – and was instrumental in restoring the defensive solidity and organization that had been lacking.
Under Carrick, Man Utd have conceded an average of one goal per game – compared to 1.5 under Amorim – and face fewer shots, which translates into a lower expected goals conceded (xGC), which measures the probability of conceding.
Maguire said TNT Sports that, from his perspective, being more comfortable defending the box was “the main thing that improved” in the first few games under Carrick.
“We didn’t defend our area well enough,” Maguire said before the West Ham game. “Every time the ball went into the box they had a chance, but in the last three games there was more urgency.
“Not just from the defenders, but also from the midfielders, the returning full-backs and the striker who protects the edge of the box.”