Carrick hits back at critics and insists pressing Is part of United’s plan

MICHAEL Carrick has hit back at criticism of United’s sluggish pressing.

The Reds approach has come under the spotlight since the summer signing of Cristiano Ronaldo and there have been times this season when they’ve failed to press as a collective and have been cut open as a result.

But they were much better in that department in the Estadio de la

Ceramica on Tuesday night and the opening goal came as a result of effective pressing.

When Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli played a pass into the feet of Etienne Capoue, Fred pounced on the midfielder and the ball fell to Ronaldo, who lobbed the ball over Rulli.

Caretaker boss Carrick praised Fred’s role for that goal and insisted pressing had been a part of the plan for several years, even under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“If you look back over time we have pressed a team, especially on goal kicks, sometimes it hasn’t worked but the intention is to do that,” he said.

“One or two games when we’ve changed our approach is slightly different, but over the last number of years that’s what we’ve tried to do.

“Fred is one of the best around at what he does, he played a massive part in the first goal. The defending and intercepting for the second is what we’ve got in the team, to be able to hit teams on the break and intercepting and breaking has always been in the DNA of this club.

“That’s about the lads working hard together and pulling it off.

“I’m delighted for the players, the effort and the endeavour, when you put that together as a full package we’re a good team.”

Ronaldo’s goal 12 minutes from time set United away on their way to victory in Carrick’s first game in charge, before Jadon Sancho scored in the final minute.

Carrick was delighted with the professional performance but was most pleased with the unity the group had displayed after a difficult few days since Solskjaer was sacked on Sunday, in the wake of the 4-1 defeat to Watford.

“The result, obviously, is a major plus, from the run we’ve gone on you can’t hide from that. To get that feeling of winning a football match for the players is huge,” he said. “To get a clean sheet was important.

“All round there were a lot of positives but probably the biggest thing was how everyone adapted and the reaction and how everyone pulled together. In situations where there’s mixed emotions it tests people, you find out the real characters and who is there with you and everyone stuck together.”