Former Manchester United coach Michael Carrick has spoken about Scott McTominay's time with the Red Devils and his subsequent success at Napoli
Scott McTominay celebrates scoring for Napoli
Scott McTominay emerged as the star player in Serie A after leaving Manchester United last year
(Image: Cesare Purini/Insidefoto/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Former Manchester United coach Michael Carrick has explained why Scott McTominay struggled to reach his full potential at Old Trafford. The 28-year-old signed for Napoli last summer, winning Serie A and the league’s Most Valuable Player award in his debut season.
McTominay scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 36 games last term, becoming an instant hero in Naples. This was a far cry from the criticism he faced during his time at the Red Devils, usually when he was part of a midfield pivot alongside Fred, with the duo being labelled ‘McFred’.
There were standout moments during McTominay’s last full season at Old Trafford, scoring 10 goals in all competitions and often finding the net at crucial times for Erik ten Hag’s side. While many fans were surprised by McTominay’s ascendency at Napoli, Carrick, who was United assistant coach under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, admitted that the midfielder’s ability was always evident, even though he was made to play a slightly different position.
“He was always, yeah, we had a bit of a kind of few discussions with it about Scott when we were coaching with Ole and we played a lot with him and Fred and actually had a lot of good success in many ways with the two of them,” Carrick said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. “More defensively, yeah, he could, he was kind of the box-to-box, if you like, done a bit of everything, but more defensive.
“But he was reliable, he was a fantastic attitude, great to work with. But he always had, and in training, he always had an eye for goal. He was a great finisher. Getting in the box, and he had that, I never really had it, but with certain lads, getting around the box is just that extra bit of time to finish.
“Like a [Frank Lampard], you know? I know Lamps was obviously best of the best of that, but he's got a sense of that, getting in the box, and it drops to him, like it's goals, he's just finding that.
“And he always had it, and we tried a couple of times, and just because of the make-up with the team, it didn't quite work at that time, but there was always something in there where you think, he's got goals in him, Scotty.”
Michael Carrick and Scott McTominay during Manchester United training
Former Manchester United coach Michael Carrick explained what he noticed about Scott McTominay in training
“I'm so happy that he's gone to do well, because he deserves it,” Carrick added. “I'm sad that it's not at United, because I think he's kind of the one that you want at the club, because he just drives everything, he's a heart and soul, but to see him go on and do well, it speaks volumes, and there's no one taking that. He's had ups and downs, big ups and downs, and he's gone on, and actually he's not looked back now. It's incredible what he's done.”
The Scotland international rose through United’s academy and became a first team regular under Solskjaer by 2019, going on to win the FA Cup and League Cup as well as reaching the 2021 Europa League final. He made 255 total appearances for his boyhood club and Carrick was asked why McTominay was not trusted in a more attack-minded role until leaving for Napoli.
“Make-up of the team, the dynamics, whatever,” Carrick explained. “Look at England, you know, you've had it with England over the years. Why does it not work with England? Sometimes it's not an individual thing, it's a dynamic, it's the make-up of the group, it's the atmosphere surrounding it, that's what I'm saying.
“It's not always just about that football or that game, there's kind of feelings around it sometimes that affect everyone's judgement, you know, it's not always as straightforward as that.”
While Carrick argues that McTominay occupied a deeper midfield role to help the balance of the team, the player believes he was misunderstood after stepping up to United’s first team. The 28-year-old was willing to play any position asked of him and backed himself to be more consistent than some of the club’s marquee signings, but this selfless attitude arguably prevented him from finding his best position in the United team.
Scott McTominay celebrates winning the 2024 FA Cup with Manchester United
Scott McTominay made 255 appearances for Manchester United before joining Napoli
“When I got into the first team, I was quite misprofiled in where I was playing," McTominay told The Athletic in April. "It wasn't the fault of any coaches. My strengths have always been getting into the box, scoring goals, being a problem in there.
"But I was being used as a number six or as a centre-back, and that has never really been my game. But when you're playing for Manchester United and you're 20, you can't knock on the manager's door and say that you expect to be playing at number eight ahead of Paul Pogba. It's not realistic."
"You have to know your place, and do what you're asked to do," McTominay added. "In the last few seasons, I began to get into the box a bit more, to score more goals, and then last year was my best one.
"They would always sign someone who wouldn't necessarily be what people expected them to be. My mentality was that I was always there, ready to go, ready to take my opportunity. I always wanted to prove my worth, to show I could play every game. It's not the sort of thing that affects me. You can only be in control of what you do."
Listen to the full Rio Meets Michael Carrick interview available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and on theRio Ferdinand Presents podcast YouTube channel
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