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Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media ahead of Manchester United’s home Premier League fixture against Leeds United on Monday.
### The Rivalry
The first question was about the rivalry between United and their West Yorkshire opponents.
“It’s gone on for an awful long time,” Carrick said. “I think that’s what rivalries are there for a really good reason, I think to be part of. And the intensity and the emotion and the passion that goes into it. Obviously there’s got to keep within the margins, but I think that’s part of the game we love, you know, and going up against other teams and essentially other areas, you know, and battling it out on the pitch.”
“So I think it’s something that we got to embrace and it’s, as I say, it’s why we’re involved for these type of games. And we’re certainly aware of it. I’m certainly aware of it. The players are aware of it. The extra that it means on top of the standard three points. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to it. A big night for us.”
A reporter asked if the stadium atmosphere could help give United the edge.
“Yeah, hopefully it cranks it up, you know, and the stadium is alive,” he replied. “I’m sure it will be. It has been. It’s been unbelievable playing at home and the boys have responded and thrived off it, really. And with the supporters giving that balance and coming with us and spurring us on when we’ve needed that. So I expect it to be the same and with an extra little bit of edge because of it being Leeds.”
The next question was:
“It’s been a big week of announcements with Harry Maguire’s extension and also the club’s preseason schedule being confirmed for next season as well. Just wonder how much you’re involved in that planning? Even when it came to Harry, with the likes of Jason and Omar, do you feel like you are having a big influence on those type of decisions as well?”
The boss replied:
“Certainly in the role, I mean, decisions need taking care of and I said it as soon as I came here, you know, I’m part of that, of helping, whatever that looks like moving forward. I’m part of that and trying to improve things and make things better all the time. So, yeah, certainly there’s conversations in different directions and different things that I’m definitely part of and I think it should be that way anyway, because things need done, you know, so I’m here to take care of that.”
### On Mason Mount
“Just on Mason Mount as well,” the reporter continued. “We saw him come back against Bournemouth for a few minutes. Just wonder, is he now ready to maybe have that strong start end to the season, I should say. But also, where do you see him kind of fitting in to this team? Under Reuben we saw him playing one of those 10 positions, but the system has slightly changed. So where do you see him potentially fitting into the team?”
The Wallsend man answered:
“First of all, it’s great to have Mason back, you know, to miss him so quickly after we came in and came together. So he’s obviously had nearly two, two, three weeks of building up and finding his rhythm, finding his sharpness.”
“So, yeah, it’s great to have him, but I think his versatility is a big strength of his worth. He can play through the middle, he can play midfield, he can play wide, you know, and he can do so many different roles, and he’s certainly a team player, but he’s a player that I really like. I think there’s loads to come from Mase. You know, we just got to give him the time to get fit again and be patient with that. But he’s certainly in a good place right now.”
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_Featured image George Wood via Getty Images_
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