Michael Carrick has gone against Ruben Amorim. (Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag’s policy of forcing Manchester United players to train the day following matches has been scrapped by Michael Carrick. The former England midfielder is enjoying the ideal start to his tenure as United’s interim boss.
His second temporary appointment has begun with a commanding 2-0 home victory over Manchester City, a thrilling 3-2 away win at Arsenal, and a stoppage-time triumph against Fulham. Carrick, 44, has implemented numerous changes since taking charge until the end of the season.
He has already dismantled Amorim’s rigid 3-4-3 system and restored United academy product Kobbie Mainoo to the starting lineup. Yet numerous other rules Amorim established are being overturned.
One aspect Amorim and Ten Hag shared was their desire to conduct training sessions the day after matches. Both former United bosses were resolute that players who featured in matches must attend the training facility for recovery work.
This approach has been abandoned by Carrick, who has instead approved designated rest days within 24 hours of a fixture. The recovery sessions have been rescheduled to two days following the final whistle.
It represents another instance of Carrick scrapping Amorim’s previous methods whilst implementing his own philosophy and principles. Despite being in position for just under a month, he has already overturned five rules the former Sporting CP boss had enforced.
Amorim had banned players from taking holidays during international breaks, prohibited food from entering the dressing room and even stopped his own coaching staff from delivering complex tactical instructions to United stars.
Carrick has also shortened training sessions whilst ramping up the intensity of exercises, and has modified the timing of his squad’s arrival for fixtures. It’s evident his alterations are already producing results.
United’s dramatic triumph over Fulham propelled them into the top four. They sit one point clear of Chelsea and trail second-placed City by just six points.
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Michael Carrick has reveamped training at Manchester United. (Image: Getty Images)
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Carrick’s team welcome Tottenham to Old Trafford this weekend before making the trip to face West Ham on Tuesday, February 10. With United eliminated from all cup competitions and absent from Europe, Carrick has no distractions in his bed to finish inside the top four.
Carrick’s former team-mate Ben Foster has even suggested that there’s a possibility he could be appointed as United’s next permanent boss should his success continue.
The ex-goalkeeper, speaking on his Fozcast podcast, said: “The weight of the badge is phenomenal for Manchester United, but then a new manager comes in, somebody that they know, somebody that they trust and they get on with as a friend.
“That’s the kind of the situation that they’re in at the minute with Carrick, it’s all friendly. He’s only the interim and it’s not full time. I would worry that if it goes full time, then that changes that dynamic a little bit.
“We’ve seen it before with plenty of teams, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and it changes the dynamic a little bit. But he’s so far beaten Man City and Arsenal. What a start and he’s got 15 games left for Manchester United now. If he wins ten of those 15 games, you’ve got to give him the job.”