Michael Carrick has enjoyed a winning start as Manchester United interim manager and a former team-mate has outlined a few reasons he is thriving
Marlon Harewood speaks on In The Mixer
Marlon Harewood was team-mates with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick at West Ham(Image: In The Mixer)
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Michael Carrick has made a flawless start as Manchester United interim manager. And his former West Ham team-mate Marlon Harewood has revealed several factors behind this early success.
In his second stint in charge at Old Trafford, Carrick has made an instant impact. Since taking over from Ruben Amorim, he has masterminded an impressive 2-0 derby victory over Manchester City and a remarkable 3-2 away triumph against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
A permanent successor to Amorim is expected to be named in the summer and whilst Carrick was only brought in to steady the ship until the end of this campaign, his reputation is growing with each passing week.
Harewood, who lined up alongside Carrick at the Hammers for just under a year, has now outlined several reasons why he believes the 44-year-old is already thriving in the demanding United hot seat.
"Mike is a good guy. I know what he's like from when I played with him at West Ham," said Harewood, speaking on [In The Mixer](http://In The Mixer) brought to you by Sky Bet.
Harewood then identified four reasons for Carrick's early success and added: "He's well respected with his mannerisms and how he carries himself. He also knows what the club is like and how to get the best out of it. He's got a lot of good people around him who want to help him. He also knows how to talk to the players."
The former West Ham striker concluded: "Just look at the reaction of the players. Any team that goes into a game and starts running the way they have and producing what they have is a credit to Michael. I think that's a credit to him as a person."
Manchester United head coach/manager Michael Carrick celebrates with Matheus Cunha of Manchester United after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United
Harewood says Carrick knows exactly how to speak to his players(Image: Getty)
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Harewood was speaking alongside ex-England defender Joleon Lescott, who also knows Carrick well from their time together in the Three Lions' squad.
Lescott added: "I think definitely he's a great person and that is key. I think if the environment's not been great, then someone comes in and changes how you feel about coming into work, then you're obviously going to get a reaction.
"But he's also asking players to do what they're familiar with. No one is playing in a position they aren't used to playing in. It's insane that Amorim was doing that and was doing things where he'd say, 'Well, play this way.' And it probably suited four of the 11 players.
Ruben Amorim, head coach of Manchester United, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Amorim was shown the door after a 14-month stint in charge at Old Trafford(Image: Getty)
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"And those four players weren't even the best. Now you're asking eight, nine players to do what they are good at and making them feel good about doing it."
When asked whether he anticipated Carrick moving into management during their playing days together, Lescott replied: "You could see that he had the ability.
The understanding was never gonna be in question. The type of manager I think he is and I've heard he is. Yes. That's the type of manager I expected him to become."
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