Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has got off to the best possible start at Old Trafford but the true test is still to come
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)View Image
If Michael Carrick wants to take the Manchester United job permanently, he has got off to the best possible start winning over the hearts and minds of everyone at Old Trafford. Thanks to his success as a player, the fans were already willing to give the former midfielder a fair go.
The boardroom and the existing players were always going to be the ones he would find it more difficult to convince. While Ineos chose to put their faith in Carrick until the end of the season, there is a sense the appointment was made to give them more time to sort a long-term plan.
Had Ruben Amorim left at the start of the summer, it would have been surprising if Carrick was anywhere near the conversation to replace him. Therefore, the 44-year-old needed to convince Ineos he is more than just a caretaker keeping things ticking over - should he want the job permanently.
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As for the players, while they may have had a great deal of respect for Carrick as a player, few had knowledge of him as a head coach. All they had to go off of was the word of the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire who were at Old Trafford when Carrick was the interim head coach the first time.
But even those who were there at that time did not get a true reflection of his managerial capabilities. Two wins against Manchester City and Arsenal though, suddenly everyone is on board with Carrick's way of thinking and rightly so.
For both victories against arguably the two best clubs in the Premier League this season, Carrick adopted a similar style. City and, to a lesser extent, Arsenal were both keen to have plenty of the ball so they could dictate the game from there.
Instead of trying to wrestle that away from them, United decided to hold their shape defensively before looking to hit their opponents quickly in transition. This game plan worked twice and Carrick has been praised for it.
However, the true test comes this Sunday when United host Fulham in the Premier League. For the first time in Carrick's second stint as interim, the Reds will be up against a side who would also be happy not to have the lion's share of possession.
Marco Silva's team will be expected to play compact against United, particularly as they are away from home, while there will be an onus on the Reds to try and dominate the ball and force the issue. Away at Arsenal and even at home to City, United could be forgiven for dropping deep and waiting for their opportunity.
But against Fulham, this same tactic will not work and the home faithful will be expecting more front foot energy from their team. As such, Carrick will need to adapt his style and show he can set this team up to be more dominant.
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If United were to use the same tactic which worked so well against City and Arsenal, there is a chance they fall right into Fulham's trap and while they may not lose, they could find it difficult to win too. There is quality in this squad to adapt but it will be on Carrick to communicate this message across to the players.
This is where we will find out just how good a head coach Carrick is.