Gary Lineker hails Michael Carrick for Amad and Bruno Fernandes tweak that outfoxed Man City | OneFootball

Former England striker Gary Lineker has praised interim Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick for making a simple change involving Bruno Fernandes and Amad, crediting it for destroying Manchester City.

United outclass City

United were brilliant from start to finish as they beat City 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, in what was Carrick’s first game in charge since his appointment as caretaker boss.

Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu both found the back of the net in the second half to clinch all three points.

United created numerous chances, had three goals disallowed, and struck the post twice. They were equally impressive defensively, limiting Pep Guardiola’s side to scraps and leaving goalkeeper Senne Lammens largely untested.

At full-time, a dejected Guardiola conceded that United were significantly the better side. Meanwhile, Carrick hailed his players’ efforts but emphasised this was merely the start, insisting such performances must become the norm as they push for a top-four finish.

It was a masterclass by Carrick, anchored on basics such as restoring some of the team’s best players to their natural positions. Fernandes was deployed in his favoured attacking midfield role while Amad was used on the right wing.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker lauded Carrick for the adjustments, while also tipping United to finish the campaign strongly.

Lineker’s remarks

Lineker said, “Yeah, I think it was a mixture of different things, probably the players and also putting Bruno Fernandes slightly more forward.”

“Bruno is absolutely outstanding, I thought. And it just looked more like a fit.”

“Amad Diallo was a lively attacking threat and Lineker, much like he did with Fernandes, praised what Michael Carrick did with the position change for the player.”

“You got, you know, I know he’s been away on [the] Africa Cup of Nations duty, but Amad on the right, but not playing as a wing-back. I mean players that suit the positions and they just look more comfortable in their roles. With that comes an energy and with that comes an enthusiasm and a belief.”

Lineker added about United’s top-four prospects, “They’ve got to keep that, maintain that.”

“They’ve got every chance to do it. They’re not going to be playing too many games because they’re not in any cup competitions now and not in European football.”

“So, they need to work on that. And they’re very close, of course, to the Champions League spots. So, there’s, you know, maybe some reasons to be cheerful for the long-suffering people, poor fans at Old Trafford.”

United are next in action on Sunday when they go away to table leaders Arsenal.

featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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