Michael Carrick addressed some issues regarding suspensions, injuries, use of potential youngsters and how his side need to use how they finished the game against Leeds, as a boost heading into a tough game at Chelsea.
Team news sees all three senior centre-backs unavailable as United were unsuccessful in their appeal for Martinez's red card against Leeds. Maguire is also suspended due to a one-game additional ban after his red card against Bournemouth. De Ligt is still out but so is Dorgu as Carrick says “He’s going well and on track but he’s not with us in terms of training.”
In regards to the butcher's red card, the United manager still feels hard done by: “We are disappointed and did not agree with it. It was obvious how I felt about it after the game and I still feel that way. I don’t want to go into it now. We’ve been hit with some decisions. We have to accept it and move on.”
On Mainoo - who was missing in the defeat to Leeds - the interim says that there is a decision to be made on whether he will be ready for the Chelsea game or not.
Carrick also believes that former Chelsea man Mount "has a good future here [Man Utd]" and feels that there is still a place in the team for him.
With all the defensive absentees, United will most likely have to field youngsters Yoro and Heaven as the centre-back pairing. Carrick was quick to reduce the pressure on this duo being the potential future of the club by saying that "you have to be careful what you try to predict."
He finds that for such young players to have played Premier League football for such a big club is a huge positive because it's not something that you see often. However, he still wants them to progress but that they will get their opportunity to show their qualities.
There was a report this week about how Carrick is the manager who averages the latest time when it comes to substitutions. He takes the longest to make his first change - 65 minutes [Mark Critchley via The United Stand]. Carrick defended his decisions by arguing that United have had good impacts from their substitutes and that "there is a lot that comes into substitutions."
The interim doesn't really want too much focus to be on when he makes his changes as for him, "It’s about results, and generally we’ve had good results.”
On Chelsea, he says that it is an important game and that in terms of the league, United are in a good position and is something they want to build on.
He says that United will be ready for a tough game at the Bridge and that with the way his side finished the game against Leeds, that type of character is what they need to take into this game.
Final Thoughts
I think we all knew that these players were going to be absent, although Mainoo being a bit of a doubt is a worry. We can't be having Ugarte playing bruh ❌😩!
But the disappointment is in the why they are unavailable.
I thought by now, Dorgu's initial six weeks would've been completed. He was injured after his screamer at Arsenal. The club said we should be expecting him back after the international break. It's been two weeks since then and for Carrick to say he's still not training, is a big concern.
We've been having this for a long time with United's medical department in that we know how dodgy and untrustworthy they are.
De Ligt is another example.
With the bans, the disappointment shouldn't be specific to United but rather, for English football in general. To have such stupid rules in the first place kills the emotion part of the game but to then suspend players for what Martinez and Maguire are suspended for, makes it worse.
Martinez hardly pulled Calvert-Lewin's hair and whilst somewhat aggressive, Maguire did speak the truth in terms of the officials being a joke.
To get bans for that...
What the fuck are they doing to football?
I also don't know why Carrick is talking so highly about Mount. I can't even remember the last time he started for us. He is far too injury prone and while is a good player, despite his injuries, where does he fit into this team? Where exactly is his place Michael?
I think this is another example of the lack of ambition and ruthlessness at United.
Most other serious clubs would've moved him on but we are saying he could be part of the future.
Carrick is perhaps trying to speak positively about him in public but might have different thoughts behind the scenes but I don't think that that is the case, I think Carrick genuinely believes this.
And when you think that the interim is the frontrunner to become permanent boss, that raises concerns even more.
He didn't even use Mount in the Leeds game when we probably needed him.
"Mason Mount has a good future here", c'mon Michael 🤦♂️.
I'm actually really looking forward to seeing Yoro and Heaven partner up. They have all the makings to be a good complimentary pairing when you look at their attributes: Yoro is good with ball carrying, has a great last-ditch tackle and is right-footed. Heaven is better in possession and is a lot calmer on the ball while also being left-footed. Both are tall and good in the air as well.
Carrick is right in that despite their young ages, to be able to play for a club like United and in the PL so early in their careers will do them a world of good.
I don't think that Chelsea away is the game for us to see these attributes come to pass though. If you read my preview, you'll see that I believe we will go for a more pragmatic approach. That doesn't suit their style.
Absolute scenes when Carrick uses Shaw as LCB 😭.
When it comes to his substitutions, I've always felt that they are much too delayed. Whether they make an impact or not, and most of the time they have, surely it's worth putting them on 5-10 minutes earlier?
If they can do so much in a short space of time, imagine what Sesko could do in 30 minutes instead of 15.
I really can't understand why he waits so long to make changes. Against Leeds, changes were only made after Martinez's red card. I would've thought that given our performance, he would've made a couple at halftime.
He probably should have when looking at the final result.
If Carrick is to be the permanent boss, he surely has to be a lot more proactive. The best anticipate issues before they become issues.
And even with his reactions, they need to be quicker too.
On a side note, a lot of people have said that Carrick's interviews are boring. Admittedly, I've never watched them,
because they sound boring.
This presser for example, boring.
Another thing he needs to improve is his character and personality which for a Man Utd manager, needs to be quite large.