Michael Carrick has made changes to Manchester United’s training schedule since his appointment and it has gone down well with players.
Not only has there been a major improvement in Manchester United’s results under Michael Carrick, but his appointment as interim head coach has also lifted the mood and optimism around Old Trafford.
United players have backed Carrick becoming the permanent head coach in the summer as Ineos continue their process of assessing candidates.
Have you been impressed with Michael Carrick’s coaching staff?
Would you keep them all if he becomes permanent?🤔
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Lisandro Martinez said Carrick has ‘touched his heart’, and he is not the only senior player who has raved about his management style at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick watching Manchester United train
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
What Michael Carrick has changed in Man Utd training
There are reports that Carrick’s training sessions have blown away observers at Carrington due to their intense and competitive nature.
According to The Telegraph, Michael Carrick has made training sessions much “shorter and sharper”, with players rarely running beyond 60-75 minutes on the training pitch.
Prove me wrong: Michael Carrick has already shown enough to become permanent Man United manager.
13 points from 15 would be title winning form over a full season…
Michael Carrick applauds after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
More United News
Carrick spoke about his training changes, and he piled praise on his new backroom staff at Carrington, who have also built a strong relationship with players in a short time span.
The report adds that players appreciate Carrick’s “compassionate” approach to training, with sources saying players feel more valued and: ‘he cares about my life’.
However, it could backfire very quickly if United stop winning…
Michael Carrick’s Man Utd training carries a big risk
Because Carrick is still unbeaten at United, the atmosphere and mood around United’s season has spiked.
But if Carrick is going to be appointed permanently, he will go through rough patches as a head coach and that is when he will be truly tested.
While Carrick’s shorter training sessions are currently being painted as a strength, the narrative will quickly change if United stop winning so frequently.
If results dip, suddenly Carrick’s changes at Carrington could become easy ammunition for criticism. The noise around players spending less time on the training pitch and not doing as much tactical work will shift from being a sign of good player management to being too soft and sympathetic.
READ MORE: Michael Carrick now has a weapon at Man Utd that Ruben Amorim was never able to utilise
Carrick’s predecessors, ranging from Jose Mourinho to Erik ten Hag and even Ruben Amorim, have all faced different criticism for their training techniques at United.
Amorim iconically said a ‘storm is coming’ early into his United tenure. Carrick is yet to weather a storm as head coach, and that will be a true test of whether he is cut out to lead the Red Devils in the long term.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox