Michael Carrick has been putting some changes into practice since taking over from Ruben Amorim at Manchester United on a deal running until the end of the season
Michael Carrick taking Manchester United training
Michael Carrick taking Manchester United training(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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It isn't just on the pitch where Michael Carrick has put changes into force at Manchester United. The new interim boss has also made amendments to how his players spend their free time, with Bruno Fernandes and Senne Lammens taking full advantage.
Carrick has been in place as interim manager for a little over a month following Ruben Amorim's departure. He delivered victories in each of his first four matches, though his former club West Ham denied him a fifth on the spin.
Behind the scenes, he has been more forgiving when it comes to player holidays. Amorim banned the practice, even during periods when United didn't have a game, but things have changed under Carrick.
An early elimination from the FA Cup means United have had a 13-day break between matches. They aren't back in action until February 23, when they take on Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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With nearly two weeks of free time and no restrictions on heading away for part of that period, Fernandes and Lammens have both headed abroad. More specifically, they've visited some old friends during downtime for their current employers.
Lammens headed back to Royal Antwerp over the weekend, with the Belgian club sharing a photo of the goalkeeper in the snow. Lammens made a name for himself in Antwerp after making his professional debut with Club Brugge, helping the club finish fifth last term before moving to United for £18.2million.
Sadly for the 23-year-old, he wasn't able to witness a win. Antwerp fell to a 2-0 reverse against Westerlo, their fourth defeat in the last five league matches, to sit 11th in the table after 25 games.
Nearly 2,000 kilometres away, United captain Bruno Fernandes was in the stands to watch Pacos de Ferreira against Torreense. The match was fairly uneventful, with struggling Pacos claiming a 0-0 draw to aid their fight against relegation.
According to reports in Portugal, Fernandes made the trip to catch up with his friend and Pacos midfielder Francisco Ramos. The pair were team-mates for Portugal's Under-21 side before their respective careers took different paths, with Ramos returning to his home country over the summer after a spell playing in Poland.
"It's always special. He's someone close to me and my family," Ramos is quoted as saying by A Bola. "Furthermore, it's always special to have a figure like him from our football watching us. It enhances Portuguese football, it enhances Paços de Ferreira, and I'm happy to have him close by."