Michael Carrick has made immediate changes at Manchester United, leading to impressive Premier League wins over Manchester City and Arsenal
Gary Neville
Gary Neville has discussed Michael Carrick's immediate impact at Manchester United(Image: )
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Gary Neville argued that Michael Carrick has succeeded in stripping things back for Manchester United in a way Ruben Amorim never quite managed, even though the Portuguese manager imposed a strict, no‑nonsense approach that demanded clear, concise instructions without overwhelming players with detail.
Amorim, during his spell in charge, outlawed three practices: using international breaks as mini‑vacations, bringing food into the dressing room on matchdays, and allowing coaches to burden players with overly complex instructions. Although Amorim introduced those rules with the right intentions, his methods never truly took hold, and the squad struggled to adjust to his 3‑4‑3 setup.
In contrast, Carrick has come in and made an immediate impact, switching to a 4‑2‑3‑1 that has produced convincing wins over Manchester City and league‑leaders Arsenal.
Speaking on his 'The Gary Neville podcast' about the Reds' quick turnaround, Neville said: "Michael Carrick, he's definitely instilled the simplicity of it in the last two weeks, in the last two games, it's my favourite system.
"We've talked about it a lot, the idea of a talented player playing off a striker, two wide players narrowing in midfield, a back four that's really aggressive. Still not at a point to get carried away but certainly at a point to suggest now that Manchester United have an unbelievable opportunity from where they were, ten/two weeks ago before the Manchester City game, where it was a real low point, it's a remarkable turn around.
"Michael Carrick deserves enormous credit, so do the players for what they've done. They've responded to whatever's been said to them and we don't know what's been said in that training ground but they are responding like they weren't before. Why? We'll always speculate.
"Ruben Amorim could be watching at home thinking 'what the hell am I watching from these players right now?' I'm sure he's bemused as we all are in terms of the flip. The magic has returned in the last week. The magic seems to have returned to the club momentarily, the feeling of how to play with the aggression, with the risk, with the great goals, with the attack, the speed, the counter attack - it feels right.
"One thing this last week has told us, no matter where it leads to, is that that is the way Manchester United have to play because it's just felt right watching them. That might not lead to Champions League football, who knows what's going to happen, I think they'll finish in the Champions League now. They are better than what they've shown and they've proved it in these last two games they've really proved they can get compact, they can stay together, they can be aggressive in their shape - they can spring out of that shape and they can play good football and counterattack and hurt teams, and they can score great goals and get bodies in the box.
Neville continued: "That's it, I'm not simplifying football but there is a simplicity to how United do play football with width and excitement and then obviously all of them getting back as quickly as they can together. So, I don't want to overcomplicate things but I've really enjoyed watching them this last seven/eight days because I can watch this every day of the week.
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick has won two of his first games in charge of Man United(Image: Getty Images)
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"It's a beautiful form of football, they've been brilliant in everything that they've done and they've beat two very, very good sides - the best two sides in the league and they've beat them which means, the players now, moving forward, have got no excuse."
Up next is a home clash for Carrick's side against Fulham on Sunday afternoon (2pm). Marco Silva's men come into the game after a 2–1 win over Brighton at the weekend.
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