Manchester United face Arsenal in the Premier League fixture this weekendplaceholder image
Manchester United face Arsenal in the Premier League fixture this weekend | Sky Sports
Michael Carrick held his latest Man Utd press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of their clash with Arsenal.
The new United head coach was in attendance as United U21s defeated Sporting at Leigh Sports Village earlier in the week and handed a first Premier League start of the season to academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo last weekend. As a former United player himself, Carrick is well aware of the importance of the club's youth system and the unique place it holds in the club's illustrious history.
United still hold the extraordinary streak of having an academy graduate in every single men's first-team matchday squad since October 1937, and Carrick is eager to ensure that continues under his reign. Mainoo could be the only United academy graduate in the squad against Arsenal this weekend and the new head coach has enjoyed working with him since a young age.
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United 'need' young players coming through
Kobbie Mainoo is expected to be handed his second successive Manchester United start when they travel to face Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.
Speaking ahead of the match, Michael Carrick was quizzed on the youngster and whether he viewed him as a crucial part of the club's future while he was in charge. "I’ve enjoyed working with him, I was working with him at 13 or 14 when I was doing my badges," Carrick said in his pre-match press conference.
"This club needs young players coming through, the foundation of the club to understand what it means, for the supporters as well. It’s something we need to keep building on, Kobbie is a prime example to come through so quickly, have a rapid ride and play in some big games at such a young age shows a lot of quality in terms of his character and being able to handle it. You saw last week what Kobbie can bring, he’s quite straight faced but he was enjoying himself."
Mainoo's future is particularly interesting amid a planned refresh of the position this summer. United are set to be in the market for two midfielders, while Casemiro has already revealed he will depart as a free agent at the end of the campaign. Quizzed on his exit announcement, Carrick added: "It’s coming onto that time of the season with contracts, January is January with the window, working our way through that and coming towards the end of the season with contract decision. That will be done in good time and at the right time.
“The Case announcement was for clarity as much as anything, it was decided before I arrived, it wasn’t a knee-jerk decision, but the type of personality and character he is it shows with his performance last week. I’ve had the conversation with him, he’s desperate to do well and finish well."
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