MICHAEL CARRICK repeatedly quoted F1 legend Lewis Hamilton to drive home a key message in his first management role.
after beating former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and club favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy to the job.
Michael Carrick quoted Lewis Hamilton during his role at MiddlesbroughCredit: EPA
The British F1 icon resonated with Manchester United’s new interimCredit: AFP
After a three-game stint as United caretaker after Solskjaer was sacked in 2021, was soon hired, and later fired, by Championship club Middlesbrough.
and is aware of what it takes to make it at the top level.
Carrick opened up about ’s culture under ex-boss Sir Alex Ferguson, revealing that winning the Premier League title was “not enough” if the club lost other finals.
Last summer, during his final weeks at Boro, Carrick told Rio Presents: “Winning the Premier League in 2009 and 2011 but losing the Champions League finals to Barcelona in the same years.
“It was almost irrelevant what he had just done.
“I say it to the lads at all the time, they are probably sick of me saying it but I read an unbelievable quote from Lewis Hamilton.
“Hamilton said: ‘If I feel comfortable in the car, I’m not driving fast enough.”
“Don’t ever be comfortable, because if you are comfortable you are not pushing enough.”
Carrick added: “That was always the case at United, when you came back for pre-season. That feeling of ‘what’s next?’
“So I never actually felt settled because there was always something to push for.”
until a permanent head coach is hired in the summer.
The 44-year-old is tasked with securing Champions League football next season, a near impossible feat given the club’s disastrous form of two wins in ten.
Former England assistant will act as Carrick’s No2, while Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and United U21s head coach Travis Binnion will make up the rest of the staff.
meant United exited both domestic cup competitions at the earliest possible stage for the first time since 1981-82.
While seventh in the Prem is not catastrophic, if results against City and Arsenal go to form, they could be firmly in the bottom half of the table by the time they host Fulham on February 1.
against the ownership ahead of Marco Silva’s side visit.
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MICHAEL CARRICK beat off competition from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy to take charge of Manchester United until the end of the season.
United spoke to the three former caretakers to minimise a period of adaptation for a squad that is aiming to qualify for the Champions League.
United director of football Jason Wilcox drew up a shortlist for an external caretaker hire after Ruben Amorim’s sacking to provide United with ample time to identify their next permanent coach.
Carrick has received the title of ‘head coach’, with the current regime opting against the use of the word ‘interim’ after Ralf Rangnick’s interim manager title in 2021-22.
United sources have reiterated that “results and behaviours” forced their hand in sacking Amorim after his outburst following the 1-1 draw with Leeds.
Carrick was the unanimous choice due to his collaborative skills while United figures were impressed with his knowledge of the squad.
United and Carrick agreed to bring in Steve Holland, despite the former England assistant having no ties to Carrick.
Holland worked with first-team coaches at Chelsea for nine years and assisted Gareth Southgate for eight years with the national team. United believe his experience will be hugely beneficial.
Jonathan Woodgate, who assisted Carrick at Middlesbrough, has a strong relationship with the new United coach.
Woodgate is the latest former Leeds United player to end up at their loathed rivals.
During Solskjaer’s time as manager of United, Carrick did the bulk of the coaching along with Kieran McKenna, now manager of Ipswich Town.
Solskjaer’s managerial style always counted against him amid United’s insistence on hiring an outright coach.
Senior United figures were also miffed by the campaign that was whipped up on Solskjaer’s behalf.
Carrick emerged as United’s preferred candidate after he spoke to the club on Thursday.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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