Carrick Discloses Solskjær's Backing for Manchester United Interim Position
Michael Carrick has openly shared that Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been entirely supportive of his appointment as Manchester United's interim head coach, attributing this to their longstanding friendship. The Norwegian, who was also considered for the role, has shown unwavering encouragement for Carrick's new position.
A Friendship Forged on and off the Pitch
The duo first connected as teammates during the 2006-07 season at Manchester United. Their professional relationship deepened when Carrick joined Solskjær's coaching staff, initially during Solskjær's caretaker manager phase and later throughout his permanent tenure from December 2018 to November 2021.
Carrick confirmed he has spoken with Solskjær since taking on the interim role, stating, "Yes, I spoke to him. I'm close, we've been through a lot together, so he's been fully supportive as you'd expect. He's some man and I respect him an awful lot." He added that Solskjær expressed happiness over United's recent victory against Manchester City.
Strategic Flexibility for Upcoming Arsenal Clash
Following a proactive performance in his debut match, which resulted in a win over Manchester City at Old Trafford, Carrick hinted at a potential shift in strategy for the upcoming fixture against Arsenal. The match is scheduled for a 4.30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday.
Carrick emphasised the importance of adaptability, saying, "Every game's different. Even if you come in half-time and you've had a good performance for 45 minutes, I'm never one that likes to say: 'Same again.' Because it's never, ever the same again. You've kind of got to build on it." He clarified that the approach won't be a mere replication, noting, "So it won't be a kind of copy and paste. There's new elements that need to come into it."
Player Versatility and Future Prospects
In the victory against City, Patrick Dorgu scored United's second goal while playing as a wide attacker, a role different from his usual wingback position since joining the club last January. Carrick praised Dorgu's flexibility, remarking, "He can do both. He was immense last week: his work rate and the way he played the position. I wouldn't want to pin him down."
Carrick also touched on his coaching philosophy, indicating he might seek advice from friends like Solskjær when needed, but generally prefers not to burden others. He reflected, "With friendships, you have conversations. I've got a lot of friends in places that I can kind of pick on if I need to be. I'm not one that bothers a lot of people, to be honest. But he's certainly there if I ever need him."
This revelation underscores the strong personal and professional bonds within Manchester United's coaching circles, as Carrick steps into a pivotal role with the backing of a respected former colleague.
