Michael Carrick held his first Manchester United press conferenceplaceholder image
Michael Carrick held his first Manchester United press conference | MUTV
Man United are in good shape to qualify for the Champions League with Michael Carrick providing a positive update on his squad.
Michael Carrick inherited a Manchester United squad that still needs a lot of work to be done to it, but he has at least managed to get a tune out of it in his first two games in charge.
There is a balance to how United have looked against Man City and Arsenal with the players displaying a level of freedom that has been missing for too long.
Not only do the players look like they know what they are supposed to be doing, they look happy and comfortable doing it in the process. Up next for Carrick is Fulham at Old Trafford with a chance to maintain momentum and confirm their status as Champions League contenders.
Man United team news for Fulham visit
What is going in United’s favour, is that all of Carrick’s main rivals to make the top four – and probably five – have made it into the knockout stages of either the Champions League or Europa League. At the end of a long season, extra mid-week games could well play their part and United could capitalise, with a bit of luck.
Carrick will be hoping that fortune is on his side in terms of the injury list with two players who are potentially close to a return to the first team. Matthijs de Ligt isn’t far away with the United boss explaining last week that the Dutchman will be available soon: “Yeah, he had a bit of a setback initially, before I arrived... I think it's just a little bit slower than we'd hoped, but he's certainly getting closer. And hopefully, in the next couple of weeks or so [he'll be back], without putting the exact time.”
Josua Zirkzee is another who is following the same timeline after seeing a potential move to Roma stall amid the managerial change and United having to wait for Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo to return from the African Cup of Nations.
Michael Carrick gives Man United injury update
Speaking ahead of Fulham’s trip to Old Trafford, Carrick gave a mixed bag of news in terms of the state of his squad: “Josh is back training this week, which is good news. He has been out for a short amount of time, first training with us since we have been here so that is great to have Josh back.
“Pat unfortunately is going to be out for a period of time. Still working through how long that is going to be. Disappointing because he has had such a big couple of weeks, we weren't sure if it was a little bit of cramp or if it was something more serious, at the moment it is looking a little bit more of a serious note.
“A few weeks out, how many weeks? We will have to wait and see. It is disappointing for all of us and Pat, he is in such a good place but unfortunately it is part of football and something you have got to work through and get him back as soon as we can.
“De Ligt is not training with us yet. Just working through the process of getting him back as soon as we can.”
With no European football and only two players out injured, United have as good a chance of any of staking a claim for Champions League football. They have shown that they can beat the teams at the top of the table, now they need to start beating the rest.
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