Michael Carrick can do no wrong right now, and even the latest Amad-Benjamin Sesko headache for him has turned into a lesson for Ruben Amorim.
Amad finally made way for Benjamin Sesko in the game against Crystal Palace, and Michael Carrick’s call was vindicated as the Slovenian scored.
However, Amad’s cameo off the bench was also positive, which made it clear that Carrick misses the Ivorian’s skill set.
Such a selection headache would be tricky for any manager, but the way Carrick has handled it is a lesson for Ruben Amorim.
Casemiro of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal with team mates Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1, 2026
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Michael Carrick celebrates after the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2026 in Liverpool, England.
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Michael Carrick’s man-management masterclass
Carrick had a pretty straightforward objective when he came into the job, but that is said with the benefit of hindsight.
The likes of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim saved their reputations by going all-in on a cup competition after fluffing the league, while Carrick had only the league to prove himself.
That meant fewer games, which meant selection headaches, the first of which came to the fore when Sesko became unstoppable coming off the bench.
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Carrick finally gave Sesko his first start under Palace and he scored, but even when he wasn’t starting, the Man Utd manager kept praising Sesko and made him feel involved.
When the shoe was on the other foot, and Amad made way for Sesko, Carrick switched tactics and praised Amad, recently calling him a dream to work with.
It was a man-management masterclass in making the rotation players feel valued and a part of the team instead of alienating them with unrealistic remarks.
What was a tricky selection headache has turned into multiple solutions to the goalscoring question, which Carrick deserves credit for.
It’s something Amorim needed to master.
Ruben Amorim lacked man-management nous at Man Utd
Carrick’s approach to squad rotation and man-management stands in sharp contrast to Amorim’s, who often made the fringe players feel alienated.
Ruben Amorim deserves ___ % credit for Michael Carrick’s BRILLIANT start at Man Utd
Fill in the blank. Did Amorim lay the foundation for success at Old Trafford?
Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim as Man Utd managers split image
Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim as Man Utd managers
Kobbie Mainoo became the biggest victim of the same, as Amorim even straight-up laughed at the face of a reporter once when it was suggested to him that Mainoo could help the team’s attack.
Then there were his comments on Harry Amass, Chido Obi, and Toby Collyer, when he effectively reduced the significance of their first-team debuts to zero by saying he gave them a chance out of necessity.
Even players like Joshua Zirkzee, who is a big part of the dressing room, felt alienated and close to the exit door under his management.
Whenever Amorim was asked about it, he kept stressing Casemiro’s example, as if that one instance made him immune to criticism about his squad rotation/selection.
You can have a preferred first XI and stick to it in most games, but managing the squad and making the rotational players feel valued is an equally big part of management.
Carrick is teaching Amorim how to do that with his first real selection headache at the club.
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