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MICHAEL CARRICK has told Manchester United’s kids to look to Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes for inspiration to become Old Trafford legends.
And the former England and United midfielder – now first-team coach alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – says excitement is growing at the club’s Carrington training ground that they are developing something special.
Carrick was a Champions League winner as well as five-time Premier League champion during 12 years at United.
And his link to the past gives him a unique insight at United into the steps necessary for players such as Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial, Daniel James and Scott McTominay to go from budding stars to fully fledged icons.
Carrick said: “You learn from experience and you learn from winning, but everyone’s got to start somewhere.
“I was just like them when I was younger – and Giggsy and Scholesey were, too.
“Sometimes you look at this club and all the great players here from the past – but they weren’t ready-made, not by any stretch. They came into teams with different characters but they had to live, learn, make mistakes and improve.
“Cristiano is the best example of that. He came and took a year or two to settle. Then, all of a sudden, he found his feet and exploded.
“So we are well aware of that. We see the potential the players have, watch them train every day and their spirit as a group and the way it’s developing is very exciting.
“For some of them it’s only the first or second year of playing in the Premier League and, in terms of average age, we have the youngest team in the league by quite some way.
“So they need a bit of guidance and help at times. There’s a pathway and you find how to cope in different situations. Going to Sheffield United and being 2-0 down and how you cope with that, then getting 3-2 up and being able to cope and hold on.
“I think, as the season has gone on, there have been a lot of learning curves for the boys, some steep ones. “But I have always seen that reaction, that step up and we do feel 100 per cent that we are going in the right direction.”
That’s thanks to stars such as Rashford, who has impressed Carrick with his ability to take responsibility when it goes wrong.
“You can’t say, ‘Don’t take responsibility’,” said Carrick.
“You can protect players, but, if you play for Manchester United, there is a responsibility.
“The lads like Marcus, who have been here since they were four, five, six, seven years old, know the place inside out and he knows what’s expected. It’s unbelievable to have that experience at such a young age and what he’s achieved already.
“So I think it is great to see him acknowledge that responsibility and be aware of what it means to play here, how you behave and act. That’s the next step and he’s taking it.” With
United facing a massive week against Villa, Tottenham and Jose Mourinho on Wednesday, then neighbours City on Saturday, Carrick stayed in Manchester to train almost the entire first team, while Solskjaer took what was almost an Under-23 squad to Astana in the Europa League.
That was a bonus for qualifying for the knockout stage early, but Carrick accepts his targets haven’t changed, although they have fallen behind their main rivals.
“We’ve picked up some cups, but in the league we haven’t been close enough,” he added.
“But we are putting things in place to help the lads develop and we’re looking forward to what the future brings.
“I want them to sample the good times I had here – and more, if possible.”