Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick spoke to the media following his side's 1-0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick admitted that Everton made his side “dig deep” for their 1-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Despite being pushed hard, the Red Devils extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 10 matches with substitute Benjamin Sesko’s clinical 71st-minute strike from a devastating counter attack, started by Matheus Cunha, securing the three points for them.
And Carrick said: “We had to put a lot into the game and credit to Everton, they made us dig deep. It wasn’t the prettiest or the most perfect game football-wise for us, but Matheus (Cunha), with the defensive work he put in and the work-rate, we know what we’ve got in the group to create something made the difference for us and it comes from him defending really well in a deep position to create that transition.
“He’s a great character Matheus, I’ve got to know him, but we’ve not been together that long. Sometimes when you get frustrated with things as a team you’ve got to take a deep breath and realise we’re trying to put things in place and the players are still learning.
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“They’re getting to know me and I’m getting to know them. It’s another big moment for Matheus and he’s had a number of them since Manchester City when he came off the bench and he’s had a big impact again for us and he’s in a good place as well.
“It takes a lot of different things to win games. Sometimes it will come a bit easier, it will click and the goals will flow, you’ll attack well and the game is a lot more in your favour.
“Other times, like tonight and credit to Everton, it was a bit of a tight game in some ways. It was a bit sticky and wasn’t flowing as much for us, but I think the spirit, the belief and the trust the lads have gained between themselves and between all of us is important.
“We spoke about that before the game, sometimes you’ve got to rely on that, and you can’t take it for granted. They had it tonight, they needed everybody to give that little bit extra, and in the end, that’s what we got out of the game.”
Match-winner Sesko hasn’t started since bagging a brace in the 2-2 draw at Burnley on January 7, but for the third time in the last four matches, he came off the bench to score.
In terms of his deployment of the £66.3million summer signing from RB Leipzig, Carrick said: “Sometimes I get it, why everyone is talking about it and making a big deal of it, but I’ve got a really good relationship with Ben, we’ve had some good conversations. He’s in a really good place and part of it is to let him take his steps with his development and growing as a player.
“Sometimes, that’s little steps, sometimes that’s bigger steps. He’s taken some huge steps recently in terms of the goals he’s scored and the impact that he’s had with the confidence and belief that he’s playing with now is great to see.
“We’ve obviously got to manage that, and we’ve got some good forwards. It’s one of those decisions that we’ve got to try and get right.
“I’ve got no problem with Ben, and he obviously hasn’t got an issue. He wants to play but I can’t speak highly enough of how he’s been, the work he’s putting in and his attitude to come on and do what he’s done again.
“He’s finished with so much confidence and belief. It was a ruthless finish which kind of sums up where he’s at right now, which is great to see.”
Belgium international Senne Lammens arrived at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp on September 1 and has established himself as calming influence in goal, making a fingertip save to deny Michael Keane a spectacular equaliser.
His composed style has drawn parallels with former United keeper Edwin van der Sar and when asked about the comparisons, Carrick said: “I’ve got to be careful with what I say here, but I know what you mean. I definitely see similarities, without comparing them because I don’t think it’s fair to Senne.
“For me, he’s a goalkeeper to be reliable, to be trustworthy. Instead of creating the chaos, you want him to take the chaos away and calm things down.
“I think Senne is that. He’s quite quiet and unassuming at times, but he’s got a real steeliness.
“To step in, it’s a real big role. Sometimes it takes time, but how he’s gone about it at the moment, that calmness, that composure, I think it helps those in front of him quite a lot.
“As a goalkeeper, you couldn’t ask for much more. Safe hands, calm and composed, he came and punched when he needed to and calmed things down.
“It was an exemplary performance, so I was delighted for him.”