Carrick won’t go without fight! | Rio Reacts to Man Utd’s Comeback

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0:39Yes, guys, welcome back to Real Rex. We are here. Yes, Manchester United have won a game. We have won a game, guys, man. Oh, my God, you know what as well? Work rate, heart, character was at the centerpiece of this result. Nothing else. It went down to great players. It went down to a moment of genius. It went down to a moment of skill. hard work, grit, and determination. We're going to talk about that. We're going to talk about Bruno Fernandes' comments after the game. And is this a possible turning point for Manchester United now, given the result, given the manner in which they got the result?

1:15So we'll have to wait and see. But let's get into it, man. I think there's three key themes, like I said in the intro there. The sheer determination, the heart, and the work ethic. I mean, all of these three things, without that, Manchester United do not get a result. And it was a bit like the weekend. I said it on a post that I'd done on Instagram last night when I was watching the game. It was just a game of two different separate halves. One half, there seemed like a lack of urgency, a lack of work ethic, a lack of intent. Players jogging at times or ambling when they should have been sprinting and breaking their neck to get into certain positions with and without the ball.

1:55and then the next the second half it was like wow where has this come from and I think again you have to give credit to the fans in the stadium that night they were loud they were aggressive they were there for the team when they needed them and pushed them on and you know what you need that in these moments when it's going good or when it's going bad or indifferent you need the fan base to sometimes generate that environment and that atmosphere for you to react from and I think yes first and foremost the players have to go out there and show something. And I think the second half, it was like aggressive, a bit more running, a bit more determination.

2:32And sometimes you need a bit of luck and the penalty came. And at the second attempt, obviously, Bruno goes and dispatches it and scores. And then our tails are up and we've become a different team. And that work rate and physicality, it gets you over the line. And that's why everybody, especially the ex-players who talk about Manchester United at the moment and comment on what they're seeing in terms of it looks like a lack of running power, a lack of physicality, a lack of desire to run at times, it feels like. Teams are out running and out working us at times. And it's like, how can that be when, as a player, you know, if you implement that and put that in your game, you've got a good chance of winning, man.

3:18It gives you such a good chance of winning. And I said on Monday on the podcast that we've done on Rio Presents that Man United physically, I don't think a team that can compete enough one-to-one, man-to-man. If a team goes and says, we're going to match you up and go like, let's have a running match here. We're going to run and work this on physicality. Whoever's the most physical one who can deal with the demands for 90 minutes will win this game. Man United, I think more often than not, come out a beaten team in that regard with the profile of players that we've got. And that's not saying that we haven't got players that are technically gifted.

3:55It's just that a certain specific element of the game that's required to win games as well, I think we have deficiencies and we lack in. And I think teams that are less technical than us, they can make it a much more even game by going man-to-man all over the pitch and going against us physically. And that's a fact. I don't think there'll be anyone in that change room who can come out and change my mind on that. I think they'd all agree.

4:26And I think there was a stat. I got it up here on the computer. Since the start of last season, teams covering more distance than their opponents have won 48 % of matches, compared with 24.5 % for teams who were outrun. That is an alarming stat, right? So it makes you realise that when people are saying, I can see they're not running, actually the stats support that if you don't bloody run, you get beat more often than not. You don't win as many games. So with that information, surely you go out there and go, the minimum we're going to do, guys, is we're going to try and match these guys physically.

5:05And I think the problem with Man United is they even say that and think that in their head, they don't have the personnel to do it. but what I would say and I touched on it before the fans getting behind the teams in such a moment when the spotlight's on us for all the wrong reasons the negativity that's surrounding the club how toxic it's been over recent or the last month or so has been crazy but when you see Old Trafford coming alive last night the way that it did the noise the backing of the team some of the pictures of the fans screaming their hearts out for them boys who haven't given much to scream about by the way but they're there was unreal.

5:41And I had a few people who were texting me who were in the stadium yesterday. They just couldn't have said, listen, this is noise. The noise here, the support these boys are getting is unreal. And I take it back to when I played. In times of need sometimes, when things aren't going well or when you need to get that extra push to get over the line, as players, you do look to the fans. You do think, after a game, you do come in and you go, what about them today, man? What about the fans today? Wow. That's why you love Old Trafford, under the lights, in European nights. There's something just completely special about that.

6:16When teams come, the away teams, the fans, they love it as well. It's a day out, a massive day out, night out for them. But when you get the fans on the side, and the best way to do that, like I said, is to work and show them you're going to play for the badge. And that whatever happens, you're going to leave it all out on that pitch. And I think that's what was a pleasing thing for the fans last night, is that they saw these players that were willing to leave everything on that pitch. Now, this has to be a catalyst. This has to be a catalyst now going forward. That feeling last night, and I've been lucky to be there and experience that, right?

6:51That feeling of knowing that the fans are behind you. Do you know what? It's been a tough time, but they're going to get behind us again. And like they did last night, that feeling is addictive. and if these players can't feel that and don't go guys whatever we've done let's just do that again replicate that again we're going to add some some some some skill and some some class and quality into it again and up that level but we don't go below that bar we've just set there the minimum that second half the minimum required is that that's the baseline and that's how these guys have got to be thinking that's how the team have got to be thinking the players have got to be thinking.

7:27The management staff, Carrick, they've all got to be setting that bar now and going, if we fall below that, get out of the team. You ain't playing. Because now I've seen it, it's in there. I've seen you can do it. I want it every game. By the way, I want it every day in training as well. So it doesn't have to be switched on and off. It's always on. You're always on. In these moments now, you can't have days when you're having days off and switching off and I'll give it 75 % today. No, no, no. We need 100 % every day. The best teams, they give it their all the time. There ain't no on and off button like I said before.

8:08And what I do feel as well and one of the great things, if you can inspire the fans in that stadium to get behind you, think about what it does to the opposition. I've been an opposing player at Old Trafford. When I was at West as a young player going to Old Trafford and their fans get up. It's intimidating. But you've got to get them fans into that space through performance first. Get them into that mindset. Get them into that state of emotions where we're going to sing no matter what here and get this team over the line because they're giving us everything. The opposition, they start cracking and then they fold and you score and they're on their knees.

8:49That's what happens. The fans play a part, but you players have to give that. You have to start that, man. And it was just good to see yesterday that that started and it's happening. So how long this is going to last? Will this carry over to the next game against Aston Villa? Listen, we'll see, but they can't drop below that, man. And it will make it even worse if they do now. But, and again, you can lose football matches, but not because you're not running as much as your position, not because they don't see the efforts there as much. and I do believe this being an ex-player I know this no player goes onto that pitch to lose a football match but there are players that go on there that turn off the effort button sometimes and there are players that go there's more in the tank but can I be bothered can't have that can't have that cannot have that in a Man United shirt because the players your teammates the staff the fans sniff that shit out and you won't be there long and well with my time he wouldn't have been there long.

9:50I think players have been able to stay there long and they haven't given the maximum effort sometimes. And that's not good enough. It can't be good enough. And it's been tough for supporters. It's been tough for the players. And you look at the players, they're hurting. 100 % they're hurting. But the way out of it, they've seen the blueprint yesterday. They've seen that blueprint. Follow it consistently every day. And you've got a chance of getting yourself out of it. And I think Bruno's comments after, I think, he was emotional. I think him acknowledging the fans booing in the previous game, as the captain said, listen, we didn't take that in a bad way.

10:29Basically acknowledging that they probably deserved it. Also, his acceptance to being benched by the manager and accepting the manager took his decision. I think I'll read you what he said. The manager took a decision of putting myself beyond the bench because I wasn't performing, and that's fair. it doesn't change the belief I have in the manager in the staff and every player that is at this club and he's asked if they saved the manager's job with that win no we don't need to save anyone's job there's been a lot of lies in the media about what's gone on, it doesn't change my aim to win every effing game that I have ahead of me I like that passion, that's what you want from players you want players coming out and speaking and being up for it and being upset that they're getting booed, being upset that that things aren't going well, being upset that people are writing stuff about them and pointing the finger.

11:20That's what happens when you play for Manchester United more than anyone anywhere else in England. You get the spotlight put right on your head if you ain't doing well. And you've got to deal with it. And the only way to answer those critics isn't to talk in the media. Yeah, you've got to come out and do interviews and stuff. I get it. The only way you answer critics and all the attention that you're getting for the wrong reasons right now is by winning football matches. Right, man, we've got loads still to come, right? out on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this. I've got big news. I switched to Verizon and got the new iPhone 18 Pro.

11:55Shh. I can keep my old phone. Can I also get the latest iPhone every year? Shh. Anything else? Verizon let me choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on them. Everybody listen up. Shh. Switch to Verizon and get the new iPhone 18 Pro now. No trade in needed. And the latest iPhone every year with Simplicity Plan. Plus, choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on us. Simplicity plan with Simplicity Pro required. Plan and device payment purchase are separate agreements with separate terms. Service plan for watch or iPad required. Additional terms apply for all offers. Hey, we're Nick and Jack, hosts of The Best One Yet.

12:22Behind every episode, there's research, email, spreadsheets, and our shared Google Doc, the headline hammer. With Google Workspace with Gemini, Google's AI is built right into the premium versions of tools we already use, like Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. No new tools or extra logins, just personalized AI for the way we work. That means less time on the work around the work and more time finding the stories worth talking about. Get AI tools for work. Upgrade to Google Workspace with Gemini at goo.gle slash workspace with Gemini. That's goo.gle slash workspace with Gemini. They got a little glimpse of it last night, the players.

12:58If you win football matches here and you give it all and you work hard, these fans will support you. These fans will get behind you. And they've been on the wrong end of some booze in recent weeks. And it ain't a nice place to be, I'm telling you. so I'm happy with the way that Bruno responded in the comments but we just need performances now we need consistent performances and you know what, it was difficult watching Carrick even through the first half, watching the team but watching Carrick, ex-teammate of mine obviously but just seeing him, it felt like squirming in his seat for the first 45 minutes because he's looking at that team and going that ain't what I want that ain't a reflection of me they look miles off it, physically with the ball, disjointed all over the place first half.

13:45And it's mad what a little bit of effort can do, isn't it? It's mad what a bit of effort can do.

13:52Can completely change the fortunes. And we're going to see that, if that happens. I think at the final whistle, if Carrick walks around that pitch again and doesn't have a lap of honour with a 2-0 defeat, I think it's probably the last time he does it. But given the fact that the way that the team came back, that traditional late winner, comeback, galvanising the fans, breathing a new lease of life into the players, it seems. Michael Carrick will be there still. I think he's not going anywhere. Knowing Michael, he might be quiet, he might be unassuming, but there is a steely determination underlying in him.

14:32You don't do what he's done in his career for so long and win so many things like he did without having that determination and that desire and that steeliness and that willingness to go through bad times and rough, rocky times. He's going to try and make it as hard as possible for anybody to get him out of that seat that he's in at the moment as manager of Man United. And why wouldn't you? It's a hot seat. It's one of the biggest seats in the game. It took a long time to get there. He's worked hard enough to get there. He ain't going to make it easy for anyone if he can. So I hope he does that.

15:03But you've got to win games. And could this be a moment? I heard Gabby Logan speaking about it last night. that could this be the Mark Robbins moment for Michael Carrick, but the Mark Robbins moment that Sir Alex Ferguson had where a goal changes everything. Is the Kunia goal going to be the change for Michael Carrick and this team? I mean, time will tell now. We'll have to wait and see, but I just... They need to work harder. They need the best players playing. I think you look at Kobi Mainu. I look at him and the start to the game, he was a bit all over the place, but the way he grew into it and the way he just, again, gained control, especially in the second half, taking the ball under pressure, unfazed.

15:44I love his mentality. And that's that. Manchester United haven't lost a game, which Kobe Maynou has started since September the 13th. And whilst he was out injured, they lost five games. So it tells you he's got an importance within this team. I think it's the control that he brings. that calmness under pressure taking the boy in all difficult areas in different phases of the pitch I think is important but I think keeping Kobi Manu fit especially now Balaba's out with a hamstring injury God knows how long he's out for you need to keep Kobi Manu fit you need him in this team you need to make him a centrepiece of this team like we've been saying for how long now and the data's telling you that he has a huge importance for this team if we're going to go and do anything and win any games I think Kunja, this could be lift-off.

16:35I think Kunja this season, we've been waiting for him to catch fire. I think he's a hugely talented footballer. He shows glimpses, especially last season. You saw bits and pieces and thinking, oh, he's got a little bit of that something special. And could this be the game again that unlocks him? Because you just don't see it. I haven't seen it enough yet with him. You see moments and you go, that's Brazilian. Oh, I can see why. Oh, look at that. That's why he paid the big money for him. but not enough. And I thought yesterday, I thought he's intense that he off the ball. And you know what, players?

17:06If there's any players watching and the fans especially to understand this as well, sometimes to generate a good performance, it isn't necessarily always going to be a bit of skill or a goal or a bit of that Brazilian samba. Sometimes it's a bit of hard work and graft that the fans acknowledge and go, and then you feel that energy from the fans that you've chased down 30 yards to close someone down and haven't quite got there, but they've seen the intent that you've had to get there. And I thought Kunja yesterday was doing that. He was chasing, he was harrying. He ended up getting sent off for doing just that, which was a little bit immature.

17:47But the intention that he had all through the game, I thought set him up to put him in a position to be able to have that chance and finish. And it was good to see that. Again, he needs to be watching back that performance and go, where was the fans feeding off me there? Where was I getting them going? Where was I getting the team and being the pressure point for the team? It was without the ball a lot of the time. And keep bringing that every game. And I mean, his quotes after, I play for this club for moments like that to see the fans with a kind of energy. Of course, we've been through a hard moment and the fans have been behind us.

18:19They need to have an answer from our side. And I think we gave them that today. True, that is. I'm very happy to be a part of this. and I think it's the best thing you can ever do with this shirt. Living the dream to be a part of this kind of comeback is crazy. And he's living the dream. He's experiencing what us X-Men United players experience time and time again. Those late comebacks at Old Trafford, especially under the lights, it doesn't get much better. And that's what I'm saying. That feeling, bottle it, keep it in the changing room and have a sniff of it on the way out like it's smelling salts and go out there and be inspired.

18:52Because that's what it takes. That's what it needs. Now you know what it needs and what it takes to get these fans right behind you. And so I just hope he can kick on from that and his confidence will just go like that through the roof. Yeah, he got sent off last night, but you can take that with the way that we won the game and got the result and hopefully he'll learn from that. But Kunio as talent, and Kunio could be a big, big, big difference for this team if he's playing consistently well and he's doing his thing on the pitch.

19:20Lenny Euro looked solid again yesterday. I think no one dribbled past him yesterday. Defended well. He's looking more and more assured in the team. Made a few mistakes here and there recently. I think he slipped the other day, which is unfortunate, but I'm liking his development. I look at Shea Lacey, even the young kid who came on, played on the right wing. How fearless he looked. Comfortable with the ball. Yeah, he's literally in stature, but he looks like he's got a big character, a big person that he wants to get in and wants to do well. He played a massive role in the winning goal. Great pass, great weight of pass, great touch in the end from Cunha and an even better finish.

20:01But he's willing to take responsibility on the ball and say, and he looked like one of those kids who's going, give me the ball, man. Give me the ball. I'm ready. I'm ready. I've got something to show you. So I think he needs to have a more meaningful role within the squad. Get more minutes, I think. He's showing every time he comes on that he can do something. He got out of a little tight situation in the corner to almost create something earlier before the assist. So these young kids, Man United is built on academy players coming through and getting minutes. I think he's one who has the personality, forget quality and forget ability.

20:34He's got the character and the personality to say, I should be getting a chance here. And I think Man United are in a position where they can't be turning away those type of kids right now.

20:47also great to see Tielemans back in and let's hope I mean let's hope he continues I thought he'd done well when he came on and I think you look at it you look at somebody like him especially with Balaba being injured now you want to make sure he goes on a little run and gets some form gets some fitness gets the level up and becomes a part of it and has some influence and I think a lot of the questions a lot of the fans had on the way out of the stadium was like why can't we do that every game for 90 minutes? Why can't we play like that for 90 minutes? Now listen, in reality, not many teams, if any, play like that for 90 minutes or in the second half that we had.

21:24But we've got to find a little bit more consistency to do that. We've got to find more ways of being able to churn out performances where it isn't 2-0 down before we come alive and then all of a sudden it's a last-minute goal. Can we control some games from start to finish? Get ahead and stay ahead. Or even just go ahead for once. but like I said earlier in this I think this feeling that we had here the reaction that we got from the fans the emotion within the stadium that has to be the catalyst now for these players these players have to use that going forward now to generate results because that feeling there as Kunia said, this is what you play the game for these feelings, these moments how are you going to get more?

22:06look at that second half use that as the benchmark That's the bar now. Do not let it come below that. 100%. So that's a mindset. That's a mentality. That's preparing for every game like it's the cup final, like it's the most important thing on earth. None of this taking your foot off the pedal. None of this, you know what, today I probably can go at about 85 % and we'll still get through it. No, 100 % mo teams over if you can. You can't go into any game thinking you can take your foot off the pedal. Doesn't happen, doesn't work at this level. The Premier League is unforgiving. If you thought you could do that in any game, you had a rude awakening day one of this Premier League season.

22:47The whole city beating us. You can't take your eye off it. You can't take your foot off a little bit and say, I'll take a touch off it and we'll be all right. No, you won't. We're not good enough to do that. We've got to be 100 % full tilt every game to stand a chance to win a game. And yesterday he showed you that. That's second half. So we've got to keep doing that, man. And we've got to work. work hard to try and get results simple as that's got to be the message man and I think as I said I'll finish it off determination heart work rate work ethic desire all before thinking about quality and passing etc right now at this stage graft graft show them fans that this means something to you and you got a chance and they'll come on that journey with you whether it's not so good now, we're at a low web in terms of confidence and as a fan base, yes we are but the fans will follow you through thick and through thin if you show how much it means you by working your socks off on the pitch and let's go man, good way to end man good way to end last night because it was late for me out here in Dubai guys but it was a nice way to go to bed so I just hope Man Utd continue now in the vein that they finished the game in the second half was much more positive something to sing about for a couple of minutes but it will all mean nothing it will all disintegrate if we go and put in a shabby performance that lacks the desire and work ethic that we saw and the heart that we saw in the second half against Roma if we go and lose against Aston Villa can't afford to happen we can't let the levels drop we can't let the standards drop now we've got to keep going on good luck boys and I'll see you soon well done

24:47I've got big news. I switched to Verizon and got the new iPhone 18 Pro. I can keep my old phone. Can I also get the latest iPhone every year? Anything else? Verizon let me choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on them. Everybody listen up. Switch to Verizon and get the new iPhone 18 Pro now. No trade in needed. And the latest iPhone every year with Simplicity Plan. Plus, choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on us. Simplicity Plan with Simplicity Pro required. Plan and device payment purchase are separate agreements with separate terms. Service plan for watch or iPad required. Additional terms apply for all offers.