Michael Carrick has only taken charge of five games, but we’re already seeing a transformed Manchester United side under his reign.
The former Red Devils midfielder has guided the team to four wins and a draw, with United now fourth in the table and chasing football.
Michael Carrick has transformed Manchester United in his first five gamesCredit: Getty
United look reborn with the shackles off after securing four wins and a drawCredit: Alamy
It’s like night and day from the horror reign of , which now look like a distant memory.
Carrick has given United their confidence back, taken the shackles off and got them playing brilliant football again.
He’s done that by making a handful of key tweaks to the team that held them back under Amorim.
SunSport’s tactical guru Dean Scoggins breaks down the five key factors behind Carrick’s United revival.
Close Connections & The Bruno Diamond
The biggest shift under Carrick has been the “glue” that holds the team together: Bruno Fernandes.
Ruben Amorim had Bruno running everywhere in a deeper role – what I call “ Syndrome”, where he had to run everywhere and do everything.
Meanwhile, Carrick has moved him back to the No 10 spot where he belongs.
But it’s not just about one man; it’s about close connections.
Bruno Fernandes has been the glue holding the United team together under CarrickCredit: Getty
Carrick has created diamond shapes, allowing Fernandes to drift in and ghost away from defenders
Carrick has implemented diamond shapes all over the pitch rather than simple triangles. This ensures the ball carrier always has at least two immediate options.
When Bruno drifts into a pocket, the “diamond” group – , , , and – follow his lead.
Against Man City and Spurs, we saw United attract defenders into one tight zone, allowing Bruno to ghost into the space behind them.
His stats under Carrick have been absolutely fantastic. He’s consistently been the best player on the pitch throughout his reign.
The Shaw Flank Redemption
looks like a player reborn under . United are very comfortable in the shape they’re in at the moment, and it’s shown through the left-back.
On paper, United play 4-2-3-1, but it gives flexibility for the left-sided player to go and tuck in. It’s almost an Amorim – dare I say – back three at times. stays and Luke Shaw goes.
We saw this against . Shaw’s overlapping runs were the catalyst for and Cunha’s goals.
Shaw has been reading the scenario, he’s been given the freedom under to go into those positions. He’s got the intelligence to do that job. It allows the tactical flexibility for him to be the key.
He’s has been a revelation and it has been a return to the Luke Shaw that we saw for in the Euros.
The Mainoo Rondo
Ruben Amorim didn’t understand . Michael Carrick – who was once a central midfield player – certainly gets him.
He has become the personification of everything that was wrong under Ruben Amorim and everything that is correct under Michael Carrick.
The tactical key has been his partnership with . Under Amorim, it was believed they didn’t have the legs to play together.
Carrick has fixed this by using a protective “rest defence” – one centre-back steps up to sit with Casemiro, allowing Mainoo to join the attack and get close to Fernandes.
Kobbie Mainoo sums up everything that’s right about United under CarrickCredit: Alamy
Carrick has created the ‘Mainoo Rondo’, using him to create a tight circle of one-touch passing
But the real joy is the In-Game Rondos. We’re seeing United players recreate training drills during games – it’s the Kobbie Mainoo Rondo and we saw an amazing one against Tottenham.
In that 2-0 win, six United players played in a tight circle, leaving four Spurs players chasing shadows.
It’s one-touch, elite-level football and because of those close connections, it completely bypasses the opposition press.
In the rondos with Mainoo one touch passes in, out, and away we go. Then that’s been a key to their success.
Sesk-y Football
Some struggling £60m players might have a sulk. hasn’t sulked. I’ve been really impressed by his attitude.
His impact under Carrick has been clinical: 61 minutes played, two goals scored.
But one thing that I think has been slightly overlooked is his movement.
Against , he just runs in this “the little circle” in front of the defenders.
He created a pocket of space for himself that didn’t exist two seconds beforehand. It was a finish that reminded me of .
United need to find an alternative way of playing at times and Sesko’s the key to that, because as the big number nine, he pins defences, he pins centre-backs.
Evans help us
Johnny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate have both come into the backroom staff and they’ve made this team aggressive at defending their own box again.
That’s a Johnny Evans trait from being a very good defender.
At the other end, they’ve shown they can be a threat from set-pieces.
We saw it against Spurs: a choreographed set-piece where Mainoo blocks, the defense gets sucked in, and Mbeumo is found in the “L” space around the corner.
Thanks to coach Johnny Evans, United are being aggressive in both boxesCredit: Alamy
They nearly repeated the trick against West Ham with a looped run from Luke Shaw.
and Lisandro Martinez have been better as a two. And they’re adding set-pieces now.
United are no longer just a collection of individuals; they are a well-drilled unit with a plan for every scenario.
With 10 days off to work on the training ground, the “Carrick Foundation” is looking rock solid.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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