We have put Fergie time behind us
MICHAEL CARRICK believes Manchester United are finally emerging from their post-Sir Alex Ferguson slump.
It has taken three years and three managers but the long-serving midfielder says progress is being made under Jose Mourinho despite the club’s worst start to a Premier League season.
Although several ex-players have suggested Mourinho needs to overhaul his squad in order to steer United back to the top, Carrick feels performances this season – if not results – have suggested it does not need much “fixing”.
United are through to the League Cup semi-finals and need a point in Ukraine next week to ensure qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Now Carrick admits they need to replicate their winning habit in those competitions in the league, where they are 11 points behind leaders Chelsea.
“It was never going to happen overnight,” said Carrick, the second longestserving member of the current squad after Wayne Rooney and a member of the team who won five league titles and reached three Champions League finals in four seasons.
“I don’t think we were ever going to suddenly move on so quickly. He [Ferguson] had been here so long. It doesn’t happen overnight and everyone forgets about it.
“But there are certain signs we are getting there. I know we are well away in the league but there are signs that we can feel something is coming.
“It is not something where you just flick a switch and everything is all right. You have to build as a team, gain experience and get some momentum behind you.
“We have the players to do it, and the manager has certainly done it before, but it takes time.”
Despite gathering only 20 points from the first 13 league games – the club’s lowest total since 1989-90 – Carrick says neither the manager nor the squad felt they were going backwards.
He added: “It is a strange one because, with our performances and the feeling within the game, it doesn’t feel like we have had such a bad start.
“But you are judged on results. That is what the business is but, at the same time, you get a feeling and you gauge it on performances as well. I said a couple of weeks ago there are not really any major problems that need fixing. Sometimes you go on a run where you are not winning, there are a lot of problems and you think, ‘We are in a bit of trouble here’.
“But we don’t feel like that at all. There have been occasions in the cups where we have played well and the goals have gone in but it hasn’t quite happened in the league for a number of reasons.
“We are creating a lot of chances, defending well and we are playing some good football. If we keep playing like that we will be OK. We know we have a lot of work to
There is not all that much that needs fixing
do to catch up in the league but if we keep plugging away, results will certainly come.”
Two of the positives from the League Cup quarter-final win over West Ham were the return to form of Anthony Martial, who scored twice, and further evidence that Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who claimed two assists, is adjusting to English football.
“The ability and attributes Anthony has got are frightening at times,” said Carrick.
“When he is on fire he is a threat to anyone. It is great to see him playing like that. He is full of confidence and belief.
“There is plenty more to come from him, which is a good sign for us.”