Carrick ready to put Fergie advice to test
BORO MAY GET THE ‘HAIRDRYER’
MICHAEL CARRICK has admitted he will do his own version of Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous ‘hairdryer’ treatment to revive Middlesbrough.
The newly-appointed Boro manager says that three unbeaten games in caretaker charge at Manchester United convinced him that he was ready for management in his own right.
Tyneside-born Carrick, 41, sought advice from his old mentor about launching his managerial career at Middlesbrough.
Asked if he could emulate the renowned dressing-room rollockings from Fergie, below, the former Old Trafford favourite jokingly said: “If it needs be, yes.
“I have a stubborn streak. I did it certain times as a player and coach. It is not happy faces all the time – it is a mix.”
Quizzed if he would boss like hardline Feruson, he added: “Do I look like an angry Scot?
“You have to treat individuals differently – which he did. I have to trust my instincts and not copy too much.
“I spoke to Sir Alex a few times over the past year, more since I have stopped playing.
“He has pride and care about his ex-players progressing and being coaches and he takes great pride and care in helping them. I have taken his advice.
“I thought that I knew football until I got to United – then I learned a whole new level of living and breathing.” Carrick won the Premier League on five occasions during his playing days at United and also the Champions League and Europa League during a 12-year trophy-laden stint.
He admits that leaving the club towards the end of last year, after being on the coaching staff alongside Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was a wrench.
The former England midfielder said: “That spell in charge of United gave me confidence to know I am ready. “I took a lot of the meetings and a lot of training. I was given the responsibility of taking training and planning it. I would not be as comfortable sitting here if I had not gone through that with Ole because of how much he allowed me into his work.
“Being manager for three games? It was a learning curve but not far away from what I’d been doing. I was at the coalface, making decisions.
“I have been fortunate to work with experienced managers.”
Some top names have started at the Riverside, including Bryan Robson and Steve McClaren, who also arrived from United, along with current England manager Gareth Southgate.
Carrick, who has to revive a struggling team lying fourth bottom of the Championship, added: “I want to improve them as individuals and as a team.
“We are all here because we love winning football matches.”