Michael Carrick Interview: Changing United's System, Influencing Young Players, and His Future at the Club

0:10Robbie Earle:Hello and welcome to the Two Robbies podcast, your destination for in-depth discussion and analysis of the Premier League. I'm Robbie Mustoe, he's Robbie Earle and today we have a special guest. We're joined by Manchester United's current head coach, until the end of the season at least, Michael Carrick. Here's our full conversation with him. Enjoy. Thanks so much, Michael, for joining us today. We understand you're at the Old Trafford Sports Barn for a special event in relation to your foundation, the Manchester United Foundation. Tell us more about it.

0:45Michael Carrick:Yeah, it's great to be here, actually. I've been coming here for maybe eight, nine years now. I came to the club and realised quite quickly the fantastic work that Manchester United Foundation were doing and had done for a period of time, whether it was close to Old Trafford in the community or globally as well, really. As a player, I always felt that responsibility of working and trying to make an impact and helping them, really. I had my testimony in 2017 and from that I started my own foundation and we've kind of worked together since really in different ways and different projects. So coming here tonight in a different kind of role to what I'm used to coming and I'm used to just coming and it being quite low-key.

1:34Michael Carrick:Obviously now with the role, it's changed a little bit. So to see the young people enjoying it still and see the coaches and the great work that goes on, it's really rewarding to be back again.

1:45Robbie Mustoe:Michael, I'm thinking it must be difficult fitting all these things in now. You're head coach of Manchester United until the end of the season. You've got one of the biggest jobs in world football. What's been your biggest takeaway working with the group of players that you're working with?

2:01Michael Carrick:You know, it's like, Rob, it's working with players or players, you know, and you're trying to get the best out of them in whatever kind of club or wherever you are in the world. From the outside, it looks, especially here at United, it looks very different to sometimes what it's like on the inside, you know, at the end of the day we've got some really good footballers that we're trying to get the best out of there's obviously expectations and responsibilities come with this football club which I think you've got to take as a real privilege and embrace them the boys have been fantastic it feels we've been together a long time it's been eight games, you know so part of that's not going to be perfect but definitely the results and the position we put ourselves in I think it's really

2:47Robbie Earle:encouraging in a short space of time Michael like everybody else you've been watching the games under the previous manager you've been seeing what's going on all the things that's been said from from everybody in the media when you went in there what was the first thing that you wanted to address now whether that might be the spirit of the team or the system that so many people have talked about but what was the first thing that you wanted to sort out I think just getting the

3:10Michael Carrick:connection with the players is important. You know what it's like when you're in dressing rooms and someone else comes through to kind of lead the team. You want to have that quickly, that understanding really and that clarity and that connection that you feel that between the staff and the players. We came in on the Tuesday, we worked with the players on the Wednesday and we had Man City on the weekend. So we had a really quick turnaround and that was the main thing for me was clarity with the players. whatever formation or tactics we were going to play was clarity, really, and the boys took it on really quickly.

3:48Michael Carrick:And there's some really good players, a lot of good players within the group, and we were a good team when we get things right.

3:53Robbie Earle:Did you think the system was something that the players preferred, like the change that you made straight away? That obviously worked out pretty good.

4:03Michael Carrick:Yeah, I mean, there's a lot about systems. I think you can end up playing certain systems with a ball, without the ball. I think that kind of is what it is. I think the spirit and the togetherness the boys have shown, the willingness and the keenness to do well, desperate for success, and they know what it means to do well here. So it was speaking to them on a level of that, really, of the understanding of I know what they're going through, I know what it's like, and then trying to put what I feel was putting plays which would suit them in certain positions at certain times of the game, really, and trying to get the best out of the group.

4:38Michael Carrick:and the boys have taken to that really well, I have to say.

4:41Robbie Mustoe:Mike, you talk about connectivity and clarity within the dressing room. I just wonder, is there any individuals or is there a leadership group that you lean on to help deliver those messages, keep those messages in the dressing room?

4:55Michael Carrick:I think it's just naturally probably the more experienced ones in some ways. I think it's not an official group as such, but it's trying to get the understanding really and work with the players. I'm a strong believer in that, of working with the group. There is a lot of experience in there in different ways and letting the boys feel that trust from us for them to use that experience is important for me. I think as a player, them feelings always help me. So, yeah, of course, there's certain players that you kind of rely on, but I have to say as a group, they've been fantastic and they've all been really close and knitted together and pulling in the same direction, which you kind of hope to see.

5:40Michael Carrick:You take for granted when you do get it, but it's hugely important to have.

5:45Robbie Earle:Michael, just talking about one of those players that's played a lot more football since you've been in charge of the team, Kobi Maynou. Love to get your, I guess we're all midfield players here on this little chat.

5:56Robbie Mustoe:Some better than others, must be. Some better than others.

5:59Robbie Earle:Some better than others. You're absolutely right. Just on Maynou, Michael, I mean, I guess, what do you think are his best attributes and what do you think he can work on to improve as a midfield player?

6:11Michael Carrick:I think it's easy to forget how young Cobb he actually is he burst on the scene so early and had quite a big period out with not playing an awful lot of football but it's still so easy to take for granted or overlook how young he is really so there's two big things really I think how he just copes naturally with being in that position and that surroundings and he's played FA Cup finals, he's played huge games, later stages tournaments for England and to be able just to cope naturally with that is a huge strength and naturally the way he takes the ball and manipulates the ball, he's comfortable doing that.

6:57Michael Carrick:Of course there's a lot of improvement in Cobby, he knows that, it's only natural at that age that there should be a lot of improvement left in a young player. So that's really encouraging as well. But the way he handles situations in the big arenas, if you like, with a lot of eyes on him and pressure situations, he just takes it naturally. And I think that's a real gift to have.

7:19Robbie Mustoe:Michael, can I talk about another young player? Benjamin Czesko came in for big money. He's only 22 years of age. He's got lots of potential. We're starting to see a turn in his form of late. what have been the big things you've worked on with him? And is it as simple as building his confidence?

7:39Michael Carrick:We know what it's like, don't we, lads? When the confidence as a footballer is huge anyway, I think learning what it's like playing at this club, I think it is slightly different to most in terms of the expectation and what it likes, what it feels like. I think that can be overlooked at times and we just expect players to just come in and just be the best version of themselves. It's not always as straightforward as that. Ben's a terrific player, big talent. He's got huge potential. Again, he's 22 years old, so there's an understanding of helping him develop, but certainly taking the ability that he's got right here, right now, and working with it.

8:22Michael Carrick:He's had a great spell. and he'd be so much better for that spell that he's had and that he's going to go through. He'd be an important player for us for a long time.

8:34Robbie Earle:Michael, Steve Holland, you brought him to the football club to help you out. Of course, you know him from his time at Chelsea, assistant Gary Southgate with the England national team. Comes across as being a very, I guess, a bit like yourself, a calm, smart thinker. How is he helping you in the role right now?

8:50Michael Carrick:Yes, Steve's great. He's great. he's obviously got a lot of experience he went through working with a lot of managers at Chelsea in a short period and what change looks like, how to adapt, how to make the best of it and then obviously with England working with top players and again what we just spoke about Kobe and Ben in terms of coping with the environment, coping with the situation not phased by it, whether that's with players or whether that's in big game situations so he knows it, it's natural for him But, yeah, of course, he's been a help. I have to say all the staff that have came in have been a huge help and working together really well, considering we didn't really kind of know each other and we hadn't worked together before.

9:32Michael Carrick:And Steve's been important for that in terms of his experience and just being really calm with things.

9:38Robbie Mustoe:We all know the impacts that Alex Ferguson's had on your career, but I just wonder, is there any other managers or coaches that you've influenced, that you're taking things from and using now?

9:50Michael Carrick:I think all of them in different ways, you know. We've all seen it, you see some things that you think, yeah, I like that, I'd like to use that. There's other things where you go, actually, I maybe wouldn't do that or it didn't quite work. So try and flip everything into a positive, really, in terms of whatever experience is, you take the good and the bad and you work with it. So I think every manager's had an impact in different ways, and there's positive things in all of them, the different styles, how they treat players, maybe the training methods, the way they go into games, how they're half-time, full-time, however they speak to players.

10:29Michael Carrick:There's so many different things that you can tap into. Sir Alex is obviously the one that stands out for and is the obvious one for so many reasons, but certainly throughout my career I've had some really, really good managers. Harry Redknapp gave me my debut and he was big on giving young players a chance and trusting them, believing them. He did that with me and that always stuck with me all the way through. And obviously, so Alex was the same. And now the position that I'm in, it's a massive part of this club to trust in the academy and believe in it and work with it. So that kind of fits quite nicely.

11:04Robbie Earle:Michael, we all know that you have a big position right now, but the giant club that you've just come from, Middlesbrough, obviously very close to my heart, played for 12 years at the borough. Wow, you're the gaffer there What did you learn about management With your job at Middlesbrough?

11:18Michael Carrick:Yeah, I did think you put that strip for a reason behind you there There it is, there it is, yeah I really enjoyed it I really enjoyed Middlesbrough, I have to say I thought it was It's a really good club And we felt we were doing Some good things, we were going in a decent direction I'm really happy that they've kind of carried that on And taken a step And hopefully get to the Premier League the way they go and they look really strong this year. I think, again, experience, you know, and going through it and football is not always perfect. It's not always exactly how you'd want it to play out, but it was a great experience and I learnt a lot, an awful lot and I was proud of the work we did there, whether that's individuals, developing them, helping them, kind of stability within the club and the team and being able to kick on from that.

12:07Michael Carrick:So, yeah, I'm really proud of the work that we did, even though in the end it didn't prove to be the success of promotion. I think I could leave them with my head held high and move on to the next one. You never know what the next one is going to be. It was a big jump in the end, but this one feels pretty natural. It's the one I know the most, if anything, so I feel really at home now.

12:30Robbie Mustoe:Mike, really appreciate your time. I know you've had a busy day with the foundations and your media duties. Just wonder, at this stage, What are your goals for this Manchester United team and yourself for the rest of this season?

12:43Michael Carrick:We want to keep trying to win games, I think. And we want to finish as high up the league as we can. I think you can look at it all different ways, but I think we understand the situation in terms of Champions League, in terms of league position, but we've been together eight times on the pitch, really, and we want to keep progressing. and let's see where it takes us. We've put ourselves in a good position over recent weeks and we need to be balanced in our view of where we can get to. I think we've got some really good players. We can be a really good team when we do the right things and it's quite encouraging from what I've seen so far that we can have a strong finish to the season.

13:25Robbie Earle:Well, Michael, thanks so much for your time. You've made a tremendous difference at the football club. All the very best till the end of the season.

13:32Michael Carrick:Cheers, lads. Thanks a lot.

13:33Robbie Mustoe:And that's it for this Two Robbies special with Michael Carrick. What a great pleasure. What great insight to talk with Manchester United's head coach, Michael Carrick, till the end of this season. We heard what he wants to do, who he learns from, who he leans on and where he sees the future of Manchester United. We'll be back on Sunday. That's recapping. It'll be Manchester United versus Aston Villa in a race for Champions League spots. It's Liverpool hosting Spurs in a huge game at Anfield. and look out for more Two Robbies specials coming up in future weeks. But for now, I'm Earl. He's Must Eat together with the two Robbies.

14:10Robbie Mustoe:Thanks for watching and listening. Be safe. Stay healthy. It's a good night from me.

14:14Robbie Earle:And it's a good night from him. Good night.