Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
REDS STARS TOLD...KEEP CALM AND CARRICK ON
Former midfielder Michael was a steady influence on the pitch and will look to use those qualities to help United
MICHAEL CARRICK handled his first public duty as Manchester United caretaker boss yesterday with the kind of poise he displayed as a player.
Carrick was diplomatic and measured in dealing with questions about the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with whom he worked for three years.
Diligent and dignified in the face of a crisis, Carrick’s performance was just what the United hierarchy wanted after Solskjaer’s sacking.
But any United fans hoping the Norwegian’s exit and Carrick’s promotion will bring about a change in their team’s fortunes could be forgiven for fearing more of the same lies ahead.
United travel to Villarreal tonight for a game they cannot afford to lose if they are to remain in control of their Champions League destiny. But little is likely to change under Carrick, whose admission of a shared coaching philosophy with Solskjaer does not suggest he is ready to make the necessary changes to get United back on track.
“Obviously I worked closely with Ole for a long time and we do have very similar beliefs,” said 40-yearold former England midfielder Carrick.
“We did as players and we certainly do as coach and manager. Of course I’ve got my own personality but it’s very similar to Ole’s, that’s why we worked together for so long and why it went so well for a period of time.
“But it’s about what happens now, getting the right results, how we perform on the pitch, how we go about our business, how we carry ourselves. There’s a whole responsibility that comes with playing for this club that doesn’t come at many other clubs, and that’s a challenge we respect and embrace. I’ve done that since I’ve been at this club and that’s what we expect of the players.”
The problem for Carrick is he was part of the coaching set-up that saw Solskjaer dismissed, so his is not the fresh voice that United’s players need right now. But the very least he and Old Trafford fans can expect is a reaction from players (below) whose lamentable recent performances have been a betrayal of the club’s rich heritage and traditions.
Carrick, who wore United red for 12 years from 2006, spelt that out to his players in no uncertain terms. “For this club, whoever’s in charge, whatever group of players, the responsibility is to try to go out and win a football match,” he said.
“It’s never changed since I set foot in the door, it’s been going on long before I came here and it will go on long after me.
“Whether it’s one game or two games, whether it’s a little longer than that, right now I’m not too sure.
“That’s not something that’s on my mind, it’s all about tomorrow. It’s a big game for us in terms of the group stage and trying to get through.
“It’s a fantastic game to be playing in. These are the nights you’re tested and the ones when you find out what you’ve got.”
Carrick was reluctant to give his thoughts on why everything unravelled under former Cardiff boss Solskjaer but admitted everyone at United must shoulder blame.
He said: “It’s important that everyone looks at themselves, at what they can do better. It’s easy to look elsewhere.
“I know it’s not been what we wanted it to be of late, but this is a fantastic group of players we have here.
“They’ve proved that before and they’ll go on and prove that again.”