“We’re just starting off”: Michael Carrick says Arsenal win is just the beginning | OneFootball

Michael Carrick’s start to life back in interim charge of Manchester United got even better as his side beat league leaders and bitter rivals Arsenal 3-2.

This follows last weekend’s emphatic win over Manchester City and leaves Carrick in dreamland. Asked after full time whether he wants to take charge next season, he told Sky Sports: “I’m enjoying it, it’s a fantastic position to be in. What happens next, I’m not going to be answering it every week. I’m enjoying it and I’ll continue to do what I can.”

Arsenal beaten

Focusing on what he did this evening, Carrick reflected on a win which didn’t seem likely after Arsenal made a strong start on their home turf.

He said: “We understood the start of the game was going to be like that, as much as we tried to turn the momentum in our favour. I think we understood how the game was going to go and the flow of it. I thought we started to take the ball and connections through the pitch, had that composure and a few moments gaining a bit of confidence as well.”

The Englishman praised his team’s character in bouncing back from a losing position. “We were having a decent spell and seemed to be coming into the game when they scored, which was disappointing,” he said.

“Again, we showed the character to come back and there were stages in the game where you have to defend. They make you defend the box really and it’s challenging at times, but I thought we had enough in the game to keep believing in the confidence and I always fancied us to score.”

A blueprint for the coming weeks

United fans might have hoped but could hardly have expected the result their team managed today. Carrick explained how it came about: “Today, coming away we had to create own energy between us, and the away fans in the corner were incredible.

“There’s that element, playing away from home and understanding the phases of the game really, how it’s going to develop and being patient, be disciplined at the right time. We took the ball well at times and played forward and really positive and got rewards from it.”

He also made an exciting statement regarding where United go from here: “It’s only been ten days we know it’s not going to be perfect. You can’t expect to come here and dominate the ball. We’re just starting off and it’s a good starting point but we need to start putting some layers on top, and we’ll try to do that in the coming weeks.”

A team transformed

The self-effacing Carrick refused to take the limelight when asked about the transformation he has overseen since taking control. “I give a lot of credit to the staff and players in terms of how much they’ve invested and how much they’ve bought into it,” he said.

“It’s alright trying to help them and say certain things but they’ve got to live it and they have done.”

One of the most noticeable things is the way the players seem to be playing with a freedom and joy which was missing towards the end of the Ruben Amorim era.

Carrick said: “You can see that with boys coming off the bench and it’s a collective feeling. It’s great when it comes together and everyone’s in it and we can celebrate with the fans at the end. It’s important and a big moment.

“My kids were in there, they’re not kids anymore, that in itself is emotional, it’s the passion, the excitement of these types of games and to come out on top is fantastic.”

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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