As Michael Carrick completes his first pre-season as the permanent Manchester United manager, he will look to build on a promising five-month audition for the job last season.
The former Red Devils midfielder took charge as the club’s interim boss in January following the sacking of Ruben Amorim and would lead his side to a third-place finish, a stark improvement on the previous campaign, when they stumbled to a 15th-place finish, their worst return of the Premier League era.
One attribute that Carrick brought back to Old Trafford since taking over was resilience, with former Red Devils defender Gary Pallister believing that this was a result of Carrick’s set-up in terms of both tactics and personnel.
Gary Pallister on what Carrick got right last season
“He changed the system,” Pallister tells FourFourTwo. “There was a lot of talk about that under Amorim, a lot of negatives towards the five at the back.
“I think sometimes that was maybe a bit of an excuse – whether it’s a five or a four, players should be able to adapt, but Michael brought resilience and freedom into the team.”
This freedom was helped by Carrick ending Amorim’s habit of putting square pegs in round holes.
“He played people in the right position,” Pallister continues. “Luke Shaw was back at left-back, and he gave Bruno Fernandes freedom – at times before he was stuck deeper in midfield, which I don’t think suited him when he’s the most gifted player in the league.
“He just gave people belief.”
Amorim was sacked in January following the club’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road, ending the Portuguese’s turbulent 14-month spell in charge. In Carrick, Pallister believes they have a manager who ‘gets’ the club in a way the now-AC Milan boss never did.
“I don’t know how bad things got under Amorim, but Michael understands what Manchester United is all about,” Pallister continues.
“He grasped that nettle as a player, then he went back in last season and just ignited a spark.
“He made the team more difficult to beat, and the players seemed to be playing for him. Were we always playing unbelievable football?
“I wouldn’t say we were – it wasn’t always sumptuous, fantastic, breathtaking football, but there was more of a mental toughness about the team. He’s got a great chance to build on things this season.”
