Michael Carrick will lead Manchester United into the Champions League for the first time since 2023/24, but Leny Yoro is confident Carrick will be able to help.
Are Man Utd going back to the days of old under Michael Carrick?
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Manchester United will play Champions League football next season. That was once a given at Old Trafford, but now it is a sign of the club looking to return to their former status.
Michael Carrick was chosen to lead the Red Devils into European football after a successful spell as the short-term head coach following Rúben Amorim's sacking in January.
United looked better under Carrick from the very start. He took six points from his first two games against Manchester City at home – after just three days of training – and Arsenal at the Emirates. And he led United to a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Not only did United look a better side, but the players seem more confident on the pitch and the fans are more excited to watch their side.
Carrick brought that back.
Yoro backs Carrick to help in Champions League
Before his current position, Michael Carrick had only been permanent manager at Middlesbrough in the Championship. They looked good under his stewardship, but ultimately he was dismissed as he could not help them reach the Premier League.
However, that has not stopped him from succeeding at Old Trafford. And Leny Yoro has claimed Carrick could be a big help in United's Champions League campaign next season.
"All the players in the world want to play in this competition," Yoro told club media. "The other lads have spoken about] when you train with the Champions League ball and hear the music of the Champions League, it’s just a different atmosphere from the league.
"We play against different clubs from all over the world, so [they have spoken to me] about the atmosphere and the magic of this competition. Most of them have played in this competition, and everyone says it’s just magic to play."
The Champions League will be important for Manchester United next season. While the Premier League could be very competitive, United could go to the latter stages of the UCL and show their intent as a squad under Carrick.
"I think everyone knows how important this competition is here," Yoro said. "Like you said, the coach already experienced a win in this competition, so he’s going to help us a lot on this.
"No pressure, of course, we just want to do well in the competition, and we have a good coach for this."
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Carrick must show new skill next season
Michael Carrick impressed everyone when he replaced Darren Fletcher last season – enough to get the full-time position, if not any further. But next term will be an entirely new test for the former midfielder.
When he took over, Carrick was able to pick largely the same 11 every match. Senne Lammens was always available, as were Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez were rarely absent. Even Casemiro started most matches. That will not be the case next term.
Michael Carrick will have to rotate his side often. The concern is not the strength in depth, or even his willingness to trust young players, but Carrick has not had to do that since his move to Old Trafford. So it will be a test.
Luckily, though, he has a very versatile squad, as proven in pre-season. Leny Yoro is one example of a player who has shown his skill set in other positions; he has featured largely as a right-back, rather than his natural centre-back role. But he does not seem to mind it.
"I'm still a centre-back. I'm playing there because Dalot and Mazraoui aren't there yet," Yoro said after the 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid.
"I like being on the pitch, so I can play in both positions. Being able to play in multiple roles is a good thing for the team.
"“If I can help, all the better, plus I'm doing pretty well at."
Mason Mount is another to prove his versatility. Before his move to Manchester United, he usually played as a No.10 or even off the right flank, but Michael Carrick has played him as a deeper midfielder in almost every minute the former Chelsea man has played.
"I think defensively as well, we're [Santos and Mount] both players that want to get around it, want to put tackles in and win the ball back and be aggressive," he said after the Rosenborg match.
"So I've really enjoyed it. It's a position that I've played for many, many years from a young age, so I'm used to that in there. It's a position that I love and that I see myself in."
Michael Carrick has the options, he just needs to show that he can rotate his line-ups, while still playing exciting football that United fans have come to expect of him.
Perhaps a third midfield signing will be the key to that.