Carrick off to winning start at Villarreal
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MICHAEL CARRICK believes Manchester United’s players showed their character as they delivered a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the first game since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking on Sunday.
Late goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho
– his first in a Manchester United shirt – sent United into the last 16 of the Champions League and lifted the mood after a dismal few weeks.
The performance was far from perfect – Carrick could take credit as the introduction of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford in the 66th minute changed a game Villarreal had edged to that point – but this was all about taking victory and restoring confidence.
“The result obviously is a major plus from the run we’ve gone on – we can’t hide that,” Carrick said. “To get that feeling of winning a football match for the players is huge, and to keep a clean sheet, David [De Gea] was important again so all round there’s a lot of positives to take.
“The biggest [positive] I’ll take is how everyone adapted, the reaction and how they pulled together.
“In situations like this there’s mixed emotions. It’s a test of people and you find out who the real characters are, who’s there with you and who’s not. I thought everyone stuck together in terms of supporting me and my staff and we managed to get the win which is very pleasing. It was a big one.”
Carrick, given only 48 hours to prepare for this match after Solskjaer’s dismissal on Sunday morning, had suggested he would not make major changes, but there was a significant statement as Donny van de Beek started ahead of Fernandes.
Many of United’s familiar problems were on show as Villarreal had the better chances for an hour, De Gea making two strong saves to deny Manu Trigueros.
But after Carrick’s substitutions United bossed the final 20 minutes, and it was Ronaldo who delivered again as he scored his sixth goal in five Champions League games to set them on their way before Sancho cracked a late strike off the underside of the crossbar.
“The game panned out as I thought,” Carrick said. “When you’ve had the results we’ve had and gone through what we’ve gone through in the last few days, you’d be foolish to think you can come here, pick a team and it will be freeflowing football.
“They’re a good team, they make you work for it, they keep the ball off you and make you defend as well.”