Nobody is mistaking Michael Carrick for the second coming of Sir Alex Ferguson after just two games, but he’s brought back one crucial aspect of his management which Ruben Amorim scrapped.
In many ways, the interim appointment of Michael Carrick is the club accepting their mistake of trying to rip up the whole Man Utd playbook by hiring Ruben Amorim.
By the end of his tenure, Amorim was almost remembered as someone who clashed with every aspect of Man Utd’s ideology as an institution.
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Nowhere else was that clash more noticeable than with him scrapping a Sir Alex Ferguson rule of management, which Carrick reinstated immediately upon his arrival.
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, interacts with Sir Alex Ferguson, former manager of Manchester United prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Old Trafford on January 19, 2025
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Ruben Amorim scrapped Sir Alex Ferguson’s key Man Utd tenet
There is a section of Man Utd fans who are tired of the constant comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson, so Amorim was a nice break into the future.
However, his tenure has proven that for United, much like Real Madrid, the strength lies in embracing the past to empower the future, instead of looking for a clean break.
Forget his comments on the academy or his safety-first substitutions, the very first tenet of the most successful Man Utd teams was instantly sapped away by Amorim.
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Such was his focus on drilling this team into his preferred shape and system that he shackled the individuality of players at his disposal.
It didn’t matter that Bruno Fernandes could pick out a pass with his eyes closed. He must play in a deeper role tracking runners because the system demands it.
It didn’t matter that Matheus Cunha played his best football off the cuff; he must be a cog in the machine and play within the confines of it.
Abandoning the individuality of the players in search of a systemic utopia wasn’t what the fans wanted when they asked for a style of play.
Empowering the players to express themselves while staying accountable to their teammates was the first Sir Alex Ferguson rule of management.
Amorim’s single-minded commitment to his system made him blind to the fact that he had match-winners at his disposal who could change games when they are empowered.
The only thing that mattered to him was if their skill set suited the demands of the position in his system. Otherwise, they were not good enough and needed to be replaced.
Michael Carrick has restored Man Utd’s identity
Just two games in, the difference when players are asked to express themselves and given confidence to do so is visible under Carrick.
With Ruben Amorim SACKED, where will Manchester United finish in 2025/26?
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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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It’s not as simple as “vibes”, a tag which unfairly got stuck to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time at the club, but it’s not as extreme as being a system manager of Amorim’s level.
There’s a middle ground to be found, like Sir Alex did, where the players play for the team, but are empowered to make a difference on a personal level.
Carrick has brought back that balance so far, and although the Fulham game will test him in a different way, a moment of magic is more likely to appear when the manager allows it.
It’s not “luck” that the players are simply scoring goals they wouldn’t under Amorim. It’s a case of a manager freeing the players from the shackles that a failing system imposed on them.
Carrick has restored United’s identity by bringing back the first rule of Sir Alex Ferguson’s management.
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