Diogo Dalot explains how Michael Carrick has transformed Man United | OneFootball

Diogo Dalot explains how Michael Carrick has transformed Man United | OneFootball

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The Peoples Person

·4 February 2026

Diogo Dalot explains how Michael Carrick has transformed Man United

Article image:Diogo Dalot explains how Michael Carrick has transformed Man United

Michael Carrick has turned Manchester United’s season around since taking charge as caretaker manager last month. The Red Devils handed the Englishman the keys to the first-team squad for the rest of the season after parting ways with former head coach Ruben Amorim at the beginning of last month.

The Portuguese departed with a disappointing record, picking up just 23 wins in 63 games in charge. Carrick, meanwhile, has started with a bang, winning three games on the run, a feat Amorim managed just once in his 14-month tenure.


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The English manager has implemented an exciting, attacking brand of football that has supporters purring in delight. The former midfielder has also re-instilled United’s famous never-say-die attitude; his team has scored late winners in back-to-back games against both Arsenal and Fulham.

The mood, understandably, is upbeat around Old Trafford and among supporters across the globe, with the recent form also prompting talk of Carrick’s permanent appointment. Diogo Dalot has now shed light on how the Englishman has turned things around at the Theatre of Dreams.

Carrick has brought calm

Dalot spoke to United legend Denis Irwin about Carrick on the Inside Carrington podcast ahead of the Fulham game, as cited by the club’s website. He said: “It’s been good. I mean, it’s always tough, and I’ve been through a couple of these scenarios (managerial changes) before, so it’s always tough because, when changing manager, there is always a little bit of uncertainty around.”

“We had obviously two really tough games that can change momentum, that can change seasons. And we did really well. So now the bigger challenge is to go even further, to be even better.”

Michael Carrick Managerial Stats

Source: Wikipedia.

Dalot went on to add that Carrick’s knowledge of the club has come in handy, stating: “It does help knowing what you’re going to get because, sometimes, you don’t know what you’re going to expect. But knowing Michael from before, I knew, straight away, that a person would come that is calm and it gives you good energy every time. “

“It’s always balanced. And playing two difficult games that I’m sure he knows really well, how it is to win against those teams, I think he knew, straight away, what to say to us, what kind of approach to have with us.”

“I think, in my case, it would help [to know him] because I already expected what was coming from him, although we had a couple of years apart. But, for others, obviously having someone that already knows the club, that already knows what you have to feel in these moments, it was helpful.”

Special praise for Steve Holland

Carrick was joined by former England assistant manager Steve Holland and former Middlesbrough first team coach Jonathan Woodgate at Old Trafford last month following the departure of Amorim’s team. Dalot was quick to praise the Englishman’s backroom staff as well, adding: “I’m really, really impressed with them. I think the experience that they brought, they came with the right approach.”

“I mean, Steve [Holland] was in this position a lot of times during his coaching career, so he knew what to say. He knew the right energy to pass to the players. So I think the club and Michael did really well to bring them in.”

Final Thoughts

Michael Carrick is undefeated in his two stints in charge of United’s first team so far. While United will be tempted to appoint a more experienced name for the permanent job, the longer the Englishman’s good run continues, the harder it will be to turn him down.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images


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