Michael Carrick has had a dream start to life as Man Utd head coach after masterminding back-to-back victories over the Premier League's top two.
Michael Carrick celebrates with his coaching staff
Michael Carrick celebrates Matheus Cunha's goal with his coaching staff(Image: )
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It was half an hour until midnight when the Manchester United coaches carrying players and staff arrived back at Carrington on Sunday. The ecstasy of their win at the Emirates was beginning to wear off, and another long week was stretching out in front of them.
Michael Carrick and his staff had spent the journey home poring over footage from the game and preparing for the week ahead. Although the players have Monday off, the coaching staff were in, finalising session plans ahead of the weekend's game with Fulham. At 1pm, they strolled over to watch the Under-21s take on Brighton in the Premier League 2 at Carrington.
That is the third academy game since Carrick took over and the third he has attended. The diligence of the 44-year-old and his staff has been noted around the building. Two weeks ago, the mood at Old Trafford was one of despondency. When United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton, the picture had become clear. There were 17 Premier League games remaining, and that was it. Another season of drift looked set for a long, drawn-out conclusion.
There was no anger towards Darren Fletcher after that FA Cup exit. The Scot had been a safe pair of hands for a week after the chaos of Ruben Amorim's exit, but it felt like nobody was enjoying themselves any more. Not the players, and definitely not the supporters.
Contrast that with the scenes in the away end at the Emirates on Sunday. Fifteen minutes after the final whistle had blown, there were United fans still there, slowly drifting towards the exit and the North London night. "It's Carrick, you know..." could be heard echoing back up into the stands.
Inside the bowels of the stadium, Carrick was just about to speak to Norwegian broadcaster Viaplay when he was pulled away for a meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. It wasn't a job offer yet, but if this carries on, one might not be too far away.
Roy Keane had said in the Sky Sports studio that United should still avoid appointing their 44-year-old former midfielder beyond the end of the season. The feud between Carrick and Keane has been a bizarre sub-plot to the last couple of weeks and while no United fan is calling for a coronation just yet, it is clearly daft to be ruling Carrick out as well, given the start he has made in the dugout.
Although you could argue this is just a continuation of his three-game spell as caretaker in November 2021. To the wins against Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta and a draw against Thomas Tuchel, he has added a victory against Pep Guardiola and another success against Arteta. It is shaping up as a seriously impressive coaching CV at the highest level.
Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo
United got the Carrick era off to a winning start against Manchester City(Image: )
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Carrick has been unflappable since taking the reins from Fletcher. He is unobtrusive, low-key and has his feet planted so firmly on the floor that it's a surprise it isn't a challenge to lift them when he needs to move. He showed little emotion on the touchline on Sunday, only coming to life in front of the away end at full-time, with his two children among the 3,000 or so away supporters.
It might have felt strange for them to be singing a song in their dad's honour, but then they might have been the only ones not doing so. Carrick has eschewed grand statements since his return. There has been no mention of chats with Sir Alex Ferguson, no real mention of his playing days or past glories. When it was put to him that United could do with a midfielder like Carrick now, he was self-effacing and made fun of himself.
There has been no schmaltz or nostalgia since his return. This hasn't been a renaissance built on someone talking about the United DNA, but on someone delivering the United DNA. Two very different performances have produced the same result.
This is a triumph of substance over style. It's been built on the training ground as much as Carrick is taking the plaudits now, he knows the work of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion is essential to what they have delivered in the space of two weeks.
For 14 months, Ruben Amorim wanted more time on the training pitches, but when he got what he wished for, he made little use of it. Whether the blame for that lies with Amorim or his experienced backroom team, it's clear that this thrown-together coaching set-up under Carrick is maximising the time they have.
They had three sessions to prepare for Manchester City and delivered a game plan to dominate the derby and play front-foot, counter-attacking football. They then had a full week to come up with a strategy for the trip to Arsenal and delivered an approach that blocked space and offered the hosts nothing from open play.
You can see the players have brought into it. Holland deserves plenty of plaudits as well. He is the most experienced member of the coaching staff and the Mancunian has quickly won the respect of the squad.
The challenge for Carrick and co will change now. They have delivered tactical successes in games in which they were outsiders, but against Fulham on Sunday, United will have the ball and need to dictate the game. That will call for a change of focus this week.
Matheus Cunha of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium
Cunha celebrates his dramatic late winner against Arsenal(Image: )
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Carrick said after the win at the Emirates that there were "layers" still to add to the game plan and things to improve. Some of that will be related to breaking down a low block. United's kryptonite recently has been beating teams at home that they should be beating.
If they do that and do it with style, then the clamour for Carrick will only grow. The man himself is refusing to say whether he even wants the job.
"I am here to do a job," he said on Sunday "When I came here less than two weeks ago, I said we would make every decision for the bigger picture.
"We are not getting carried away. It is two huge results, but we will keep our feet on the ground. I am enjoying it and I will continue to do what I can."
That has been more than good enough so far, but a different kind of test awaits this week.