Carrick backs United youngsters

MANCHESTER UNITED have had the rare luxury of four days undistracted training ahead of a mighty week; Aston Villa today, Jose Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford midweek and the Manchester derby next Saturday.

All the coaching has been delivered under the watchful eye of Michael Carrick, excused the Europa League trip to Astana like virtually all United’s first-team squad, to focus on the triple-header ahead.

Carrick won every major trophy as a United player, including the Champions League and five Premier League titles.

His message to the current crop of youngsters, whose inconsistency has seen them beat Chelsea and Leicester but lose to Newcastle and West Ham, is that growing pains also happened to the legends he played with.

‘All those great players from the past weren’t ready-made by any stretch,’ says Carrick, an important part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff.

‘We’ve got the youngest team in the league and they need a bit of guidance and help. But I was one of them when I was younger. Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) was one of them, so was Scholesy (Paul Scholes).

‘They had to learn and make mistakes and improve.

‘You learn from experience and by winning, but everyone has to start somewhere. Cristiano (Ronaldo) is an example. He took a year or two to settle, then all of a sudden he found his feet and exploded.

‘We’re aware of that. The players now have potential that is so exciting. I’m seeing them develop every day. But we have a responsibility to try and win every game.’

Carrick clearly doesn’t want to waste time on what he regards as periphery issues.

On Paul Pogba’s injury, he leaves it at: ‘We know he is a top player but Fred has come in and done terrifically the past few weeks.’

What about Mourinho playing mind games next week by comparing his trophy haul to Solskjaer? ‘It is hypothetical,’ he says. ‘Ole is all about belief in this club. Anything outside that doesn’t effect him.’