Michael Carrick is expecting a difficult test when Manchester United travel to impressive Bournemouth looking to maintain their Champions League charge, and the Red Devils are also now facing the threat of losing another young player to Leeds United.
Carrick expecting a fight at Bournemouth
Carrick's rejuvenated side sit third in the Premier League after bouncing back from their first loss under the head coach away to Newcastle by beating top-four rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday.
Bournemouth lie 10th in the standings and have made life tough for United in recent years, with December’s jaw-dropping 4-4 Old Trafford draw extending their recent unbeaten run in this fixture.
Andoni Iraola has not lost in five previous matches against a club he has been linked to, although Carrick can further his case for the long-term post with a win at the Vitality Stadium.
Man-Utd-Michael-Carrick-Newcastle
“It’s a tough game,” the United head coach said of Bournemouth, who are undefeated in 10 in the Premier League. “It’s a tough place to go. They’re on a really good run of form, so, yeah, a difficult game.
“We’re obviously going down there, we’ve had a good run and the boys are in good shape but, yeah, always a difficult game. Always has been and probably always will be.
“We know that, they’re a really good team, well coached, really well coached, and good energy. We know we’ll be in for a game down there on Friday.”
United have won just two of their last seven away matches following a last-gasp 2-1 loss at Newcastle on their last road trip.
That run takes in matches under former boss Ruben Amorim and interim Darren Fletcher, but it does not overly concern Carrick.
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“Whether it’s home or away, it’s not something we kind of look at too much,” he said. “It’s the next game, really.
“Of course, we’ve had some good results at home. That doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s fixed and we can move onto something else. It’s always the next game.
“It’s been nice to be able to win at home and put that in place, and to go and play at Old Trafford with a real feeling of confidence and looking forward to the game and for the supporters to feel that as well and leaving with a good feeling.
“There’s certainly the element of that but we’re not going with a major difference in preparation or mindset or anything. I think it’s the next game.
“We know it’s a tough place to go anyway. It always has been but we’re not really separating one game to the next. It’s just one game at a time.”
Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez remain absent for Friday’s match, but the latter is expected to be back when United return to action against Leeds on April 13, following the international break.
According to a report from Football Insider, Manchester United could lose a second youngster to Leeds within the space of a few months.
The Whites signed teenage midfielder Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher in January, and have now made contact to bring winger Silva Mexes to the club after he failed to agree a professional contract with United.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke looks dejected after the match
Following the breakdown of talks over turning his scholarship terms to professional, the 16 year-old is ready to consider finding a new home.
The son of former Wales international Robert Earnshaw, Mexes represents Thailand at international level through his half-Thai mother, and Leeds have 'registered their interest' as they seek to improve the academy ranks at Thorp Arch.
United meanwhile will undergo somewhat of a mini overhaul this summer with the likes of Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford expected to leave, but what that means for those in the academy ranks remains to be seen.
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