‘PURE’ CARRICK IS OLE TOP BOY
United boss raving over coach’s impact and philosophy
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER and Michael Carrick experienced some great moments as Manchester United players.
But it is Carrick’s inside view of the six years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired that is proving invaluable to United boss Solskjaer as he plots to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
The former England midfielder witnessed the failure of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho to build on the legacy left by Ferguson.
Solskjaer does not intend to make the same mistakes. The Norwegian has surrounded himself with coaches steeped in the club’s traditions.
Mike Phelan is his assistant and Kieran McKenna now shares first- team coaching duties.
But it is Carrick who Solskjaer can tap into about the club’s recent fall from grace as he looks to reestablish United’s true identity.
“I think we have a very good team of coaches,” said Solskjaer.
“Michael has got a great knowledge of football and gives me some great insight.
“Of course, we played together and we’ve got the same experience of working under Sir Alex. But Michael has also had different managers during his time here and elsewhere, and so he can be a fantastic help to me – and he has been.
“He has helped my integration and helped me understand the changes that have been made at the club.
“There have been many things that Michael has helped me with, but it’s also about the way he conducts himself.
“He has a clear idea of the way he wants us to play because he is a pure footballer.
“He likes to see the game played in a certain way – and I let him coach the way he wants because of how he views football.” Solskjaer added: “It’s great to work with Michael – but it is also strange in a way.
“I have always had so much respect for him as someone I played with and also against.
“Suddenly we’re now working together on the coaching side of the game – and now I am deciding when he is right and when he is wrong.
“We do have our disagreements. Not all the time because we share the same view of the game in many ways.
“We are very similar types, with a very similar football philosophy, so we don’t have many quarrels. He wi l l definitely tell me when he thinks I am wrong – and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
“It’s the same, whether it’s Michael, Kieran and Mick. I am not someone who wants to work with ‘yes’ men.”
United have enjoyed an encouraging, if unspectacular, start to the Premier League season, with the euphoria of wins over Chelsea and Leicester tempered by a home defeat by Crystal Palace and draws at Wolves and Southampton.
They travel to West Ham – Newcastle-born Carrick’s first club in his playing days – with Solskjaer firm in his belief that his young side have what it takes to bring United back into the Champions League.
Solskjaer said: “I hope people can see our improvement as a team because we feel we are on the right track.
“We need to keep improving. If we improve at the rate I think these young players will, then I believe we will be challenging for the top places at the end of the season.”