Michael Carrick has been sent a firm message from a former Manchester United coach about what he must to do salvage something significant from their season
Michael Carrick has been told to get tough on his Manchester United flops if he wants to salvage something from the season.
Carrick is poised to be named interim boss for the rest of the season, following last week’s sacking of Ruben Amorim. Carrick will have former England No.2 Steve Holland as his assistant, along with Jonathan Wodgate.
The incoming Carrick has little time to prepare for a crunch first game in charge – against derby rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford. And former United coach Rene Meulensteen has told Carrick he has to make an immediate impact if he is to succeed.
Muelensteen, who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s No.2, was speaking on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in partnership with BOYLE Sports,
He said: “I know Michael, and I rate him highly. He was a very intelligent player, and I think he did a really good job at Middlesbrough.
“He’ll know what to do. He’ll have to go in there and be really clear to the players. “Coaching is going to be vital. They need to start getting clean sheets, the way they defend has to be coached, whatever the formation is.
“I trust him with his ability and intelligence to get that right. I don’t think it’s too difficult to fix, in my opinion. Up front, Manchester United have plenty of power in terms of creating chances and scoring goals.
“But it’s a team without any direction. If you asked individuals in that team, what are you? What is the identity of this team? That needs to be put in place.
“It needs a clear structure, better performances, clean sheets, wins on the board, and then the belief starts to kick in. You then start growing as a unit again; that’s what needs to take place.
“The problem is deeper than just the system. Otherwise, you don’t draw against Burnley away and you don’t lose to Brighton at home.
“It depends on how strong he is when he comes in, the messages, the clarity of those messages, to make sure the players buy into it really quickly.
“The fact they have City and Arsenal next couldn’t have come at a better time, because they have to step up – and step up now.”