Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca spoke about Manchester United and their manager Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
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Enzo Maresca has been impressed at the work that Michael Carrick has done at Manchester United but had no sympathy for them having fewer days to prepare for the derby. The Champions League schedule meant that United only played on Thursday night in the competition whereas City played on Tuesday.
The Blues were away in Porto and had to play a tougher opponent than Ajerbaijan side Sabah, yet will still be fresher on Sunday because of the way UEFA scheduled their games. Carrick described the situation as 'not ideal' but Maresca said it is something that happens to everyone - including City last year at this exact time of the season when they hosted Napoli on a Thursday before travelling down to Arsenal on the Sunday.
"To be honest, the club mentioned to me that it happened exactly the same last year when the club played Napoli and then after two days played Arsenal. Sometimes it happens in football," said Maresca. "I don't have any doubt that Man United are going to be ready for that.
"That happens and you need to adapt. It happened last year with us, this season with them, next season it will happen with a different team. The only thing I can say is that happened and you need to adapt."
Carrick is under some early pressure this season after a surprise defeat at promoted side Hull City in their opening game and then a 2-2 draw at Everton that saw them twice fail to keep a lead. They have scored nine goals in two matches at Old Trafford this season though and were too good for City last year when Carrick had just taken over on an interim basis.
Maresca has liked what he has seen from his counterpart, who he encountered at Middlesbrough three years ago when he was at Leicester. "I think he's doing a fantastic job since last season. He took over in a complicated situation, finished very well. This season more or less starts in the same way so he's doing a very good job."