Man Utd beat 10-man Tottenham 2-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford and Michael Carrick was pleased with the attacking performance.
Manchester United celebrate against Tottenham
Michael Carrick was pleased with Manchester United's attacking performance against Tottenham
View Image
Michael Carrick was pleased with the purpose and confidence on show in Manchester United's attack as he made it four wins in a row since being appointed head coach last month.
United broke down 10-man Tottenham through a clever set-piece routine and a late Bruno Fernandes goal and they had looked bright even before Cristian Romero was sent-off just before the half-hour mark.
Some of United's attacking play was slick and intricate and the corner that opened the game up was well worked, with Bryan Mbeumo providing the finishing touch, before Fernandes scored a second nine minutes from time.
It was a sharp contrast to the last time a visiting team had a man sent off early at Old Trafford. Back in November, Everton survived 80 minutes with 10 men and scored the only goal of the game against Ruben Amorim's side.
United rarely looked in trouble against Tottenham and Carrick was pleased with some of the quality of the attacking play he saw from his side.
"It's a tricky one, we've seen all sorts of different things happen from playing against 10 men over the years. The first goal is normally vital, to get ahead, but I think it's just encouraging the expression, the attacking play, and not so much the enjoyment where you can do what you want and it's a playground kind of flicks and tricks, but more playing with a purpose, the confidence.
"The first goal ends up coming from a really well worked corner. So, there's different ways to get that goal, but the boys pulled it off really well. Credit to Johnny [Evans] and Keita [Hasegawa], who've put that together and worked with the boys over the few days of having an idea.
"There's different ways you can break teams down, but fortunately for us today, we managed to pull it off."
Fernandes continued his own rich vein of form by scoring the second, an instinctive finish at the back post from Diogo Dalot's cross, and Carrick agreed with the assessment that he might be one of the most in-form players in the Premier League.
"I think Bruno's level of performance over quite a long period of time now has been so consistent," he said. "He's always in and around big moments and he kind of got his fingerprints on it most of the time.
"He just cares so much, you can see that, he cares so much about the club and wanting the club to do well, the team to do well, and he can play so many different positions.
"He ended up playing off the left today and got his goal at the end from playing off the left. He's just got the quality in the big moments to have that composure and can make the difference for us.
"It's not new. Hopefully it continues. I'm sure he will have big moments between now and the end of the season as well."
Marcus Rashford 'agrees' Man United sacrifice as Barcelona transfer details emerge
Marcus Rashford 'agrees' Man United sacrifice as Barcelona transfer details emerge
Man United vs Tottenham TV channel, live stream and how to listen
Man United vs Tottenham TV channel, live stream and how to listen
Glazers' '£1.3bn bid' emerges as Man United owners persist with latest target after setbacks
Glazers' '£1.3bn bid' emerges as Man United owners persist with latest target after setbacks
Michael Carrick introduces new Man United rule as another Ruben Amorim idea binned
Michael Carrick introduces new Man United rule as another Ruben Amorim idea binned
Man United given instant Cristian Romero red card verdict vs Tottenham amid Casemiro concern
Man United given instant Cristian Romero red card verdict vs Tottenham amid Casemiro concern
Man City leave summer signing out in four changes to Champions League squad
Man City leave summer signing out in four changes to Champions League squad
Man United's next five fixtures compared to Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa after Spurs win
Man United's next five fixtures compared to Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa after Spurs win
'Business as usual' - Man City keep buying, selling and earning three years since 115 charges dropped
'Business as usual' - Man City keep buying, selling and earning three years since 115 charges dropped
Man United lineup vs Tottenham predicted as Matheus Cunha starts and Benjamin Sesko decision made
Man United lineup vs Tottenham predicted as Matheus Cunha starts and Benjamin Sesko decision made
De Ligt, Mount, Dorgu - Man United injury latest and possible return dates vs Tottenham
De Ligt, Mount, Dorgu - Man United injury latest and possible return dates vs Tottenham
Man United spent £36m more than they wanted to - but dodged major transfer bullet
Man United spent £36m more than they wanted to - but dodged major transfer bullet
Marc Guehi makes Pep Guardiola admission ahead of Liverpool vs Man City
Marc Guehi makes Pep Guardiola admission ahead of Liverpool vs Man City