05/03/2026
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗨𝘁𝗱'𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
We look at Carrick's impact at Old Trafford with the Red Devils unbeaten in 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 straight matches since he took charge, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁.
Michael Carrick has made an impressive start at Manchester United, overseeing 8 eight great matches to boost the club's hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Comparing his 8 eight games to former head coach Amorim’s 20 this season, Man Utd are producing almost double the number of direct attacks and 50 per cent more fast breaks per game, while playing 21 more passes into the final third per 90 minutes.
𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲
As a result, they are creating more big chances, having more shots on target and winning the ball higher up the pitch, with 8.4 high turnovers per game compared to Amorim’s 7.2.
𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲 : No team has Created More Chances than Manchester United this 2025/2026 season! ✨
Also, No team has Shots On Target (Shots On Goal) than Manchester United this season! 🎯
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗡𝗼 𝟭𝟬
unlocking Bruno Fernandes' talents.
After taking charge, Carrick immediately moved Fernandes out of the deeper, fixed midfield role he had occupied in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, pushing the Portuguese further forward behind the striker and giving him the freedom to unleash his abundance of creativity.
Carrick is placing far less pressure on Fernandes to track back, leaving the brunt of the defensive work to Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo.
"Knowing him for a long time, what his skills are, his attributes, he’s creative, so let him be creative in the right places," Carrick added.
𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗼
Another major departure from Amorim’s approach has been restoring Mainoo to the starting XI – a move that has worked on multiple levels.
It was a decision many fans wanted to see while Mainoo sat on the bench under Amorim. It reconnected the first-team to Man Utd’s famed academy and added much-needed control and passing fluidity in central midfield.
From zero starts this season under Amorim, the 20-year-old has started all five of Carrick’s games.
"For me, there’s no better feeling than giving young players a chance. He’s taken the chance over recent weeks and, as I said, I’m sure he’ll continue to do that." Carrick said.
𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗯𝗲𝘂𝗺𝗼 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗿
But Carrick has also played Mbeumo on the left and is enjoying the interchangeability and versatility of his attackers.
Asked why, Carrick said "he's got an eye for goals" and "his movement's really good", and pointed to his strong link-up with Fernandes.
Mbeumo has three goals and an assist in Carrick’s five games – two goals as centre-forward and a goal and assist from the wing.
𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Harry Maguire has been brought back into the team – starting all five of Carrick’s matches after falling out of favour under Amorim – and has been instrumental in restoring the defensive solidity and organisation that had been lacking.
"Not just from the defenders, but from the midfielders, from the wide men getting back in and the striker protecting the edge of the box." Maguire said.
© PREMIER LEAGUE 2026
