Jose Mourinho’s assessment of one key first-team Manchester United player might be exactly why interim boss Michael Carrick returned to basics with his approach.
Michael Carrick took his first steps into coaching under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho after the underrated ex-midfielder called it time on his prolific playing career in 2018.
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The 44-year-old Manchester United legend became part of Mourinho’s coaching staff and served under the former Red Devils manager until he was sacked by the club.
Carrick remained at Old Trafford after Mourinho’s exit and was immediately retained in the coaching staff of former Red Devils head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The former Middlesbrough manager had a brief spell as caretaker manager of the Red Devils in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer met the same fate as Mourinho.
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Jose Mourinho and Michael Carrick during a 2018 International Champions Cup match between Manchester United and AC Milan at the StubHub Center in 2018 in Carson, California.
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Jose Mourinho already told Michael Carrick the importance of Man Utd and England defender Luke Shaw
Michael Carrick spent the tail end of his successful Old Trafford playing career under former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
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The former Red Devils midfielder shared the pitch with Luke Shaw for both club and country and witnessed first-hand his ex-teammate’s ability as a superb left-back.
While Mourinho had a contentious relationship with Luke Shaw in his United spell, not even the ‘Special One’ could overlook the talents of the England star.
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However, a turning point in form for Shaw in the 2017-18 Premier League season saw Benfica boss Mourinho change his tune towards the 30-year-old defender.
Speaking in 2018, Mourinho admitted that there were not many left-backs in the world who could do what Shaw did on the pitch for Man Utd at that time.
“I’m really happy,” he said, as per The Daily Telegraph.
“You like the transfer market. I can say that in this moment, I don’t see many left-backs better than this Luke Shaw.”
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Jose Mourinho’s ‘Luke Shaw version’ still remains at Man Utd for Michael Carrick to use at Old Trafford
Fast-forward from 2018 to 2026 and Luke Shaw still remains at Old Trafford and was a key United first-team player for former Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim.
Shaw has been able to overcome his injury-hit spell at Man Utd this season and the Three Lions international regularly featured under Ruben Amorim in the backline.
However, former Man Utd manager Amorim had modified Shaw to a left-sided centre-back to work in synergy with his contentious tactical system at Old Trafford.
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Patrick Dorgu celebrates with his teammates during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
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Carrick tossed out Amorim’s Man Utd tactics for his first match in charge and Shaw was restored to his natural position for the Red Devils at left-back.
Shaw might be experiencing the effects of Father Time compared with his period under Mourinho, but his value at left-back has still remained as strong as ever.
Just like many other Man Utd players against Manchester City on Saturday, Shaw stood out for the right reasons with his performance in the Premier League clash.
Carrick knew exactly why Mourinho rated Shaw’s left-back qualities and the United star’s return to his preferred position was a certainty under the interim manager.
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