Harry Maguire has heaped praises on Michael Carrick after Manchester United’s impressive turnaround this season, with the club closing in on a return to the UEFA Champions League.
The Red Devils defeated Brentford 2-1 on Monday night to move within only two points of returning to Europe’s elite club competition after a two-year hiatus.
Most of that improvement can be credited to Carrick, who arrived on an interim role in January after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Since his arrival, the former midfielder has brought back the fear factor and has seen the club move closer to sealing a top five spot.
“I think obviously the results help that the feeling (of confidence about Michael Carrick) massively,” Maguire said.
“We had two tough fixtures when Michael first come in, and I think everyone was probably looking at them thinking ‘oh no’, with Arsenal and Man City, and we managed to get the six points.
“Everyone’s believed in it, and we’ve gathered together. We’ve got the confidence. We know that we can score goals from anywhere. I think we can still get a lot better at this formation as well. I think we can work as a back force, slide across the pitch a lot quicker, like we should have done.”
Manchester United finished 15th last season, but are certainly assured of a top five finish this time around, marking remarkable improvement at the club.
Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko scored both goals, with Bruno Fernandes grabbing his 19th league assist of the season to close in on the single-season record of 20.
“The results speak for themselves, since the manager has come in, and the formation has changed, we just seemed to pick up results. I think that the games previous, when Ruben was here, the games were 50/50, but we always ended up on the back of a defeat”, Maguire added.
“Now it seems like it’s the other way around, where we’re a lot better in both boxes. We defend our box a lot better, and we’re managing to be clinical in the other box.”
Manchester United face a tough test in their next match as they look to cement their Champions League spot, when they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
