Every word of Michael Carrick’s Crystal Palace embargoed press conference | OneFootball

Michael Carrick has been addressing the media in the embargoed section of the Crystal Palace pre-match press conference.

A “Michael Carrick team”

The first question in this section was about how much the current United team feels like a “Michael Carrick team”.

He answered: “I think it always evolves. It’s never perfect. I’ve said that. It’s always hoping for more. I think part of it’s understanding of how little time still we’ve been together. Sometimes it’s going to go well and there’s going to be the times where it doesn’t quite click so much. I think not to be overpicky and overworking certain things and actually taking the perspective in the bigger picture is important for us.”

“But yeah, I think we’re in a good place. In some ways, we’ve made big strides, winning games that we might not have won at other times, played some good football at times, things to improve at times, defending really, really well a lot of the time, and keeping clean sheets. So there’s lots of positives. Certainly, there’s so many layers of levels that we feel we can get to as a group. So we’ll just keep pushing for that.”

A point to prove against Glasner?

The next reporter asked whether tomorrow’s opposing manager Oliver Glasner being linked with the United job is “an extra motivation for you going into the game, or is it just something that you would never, ever consider?”

“No, not really,” the boss answered. “That’s not something that would cross my mind, to be honest, until you mention it.”

The reporter continued “When you were helping Ole, it felt quite significant after that game, I think, when you won at Tottenham, and obviously, Pochettino was in charge. Can you still get those surges of momentum from certain wins like that where, as you just said, you’re not necessarily looking at the fellow coach in the opposite dugout, but in time, later on down the line, it can feel quite significant?”

“Honestly, no. no, it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever,” he replied. “It’s total respect for Crystal Palace and Oliver in terms of the team and the role that they’re doing. And that’s no disrespect, it’s the next game for us. We’re in a position where we found ourselves that we were in a decent spot and we feel like we’re moving forward. It’s just about what’s in front of us and trying to get to where we want to be, which is a little bit higher up the league. So that’s literally all that I’m worried about at the moment.”

Travis Binnion’s work with the strikers

The next question was: “We spoke to Benjamin Sesko after the Everton game the other night, and he talked about Travis Binnion really helping him in training. Could you provide some insight into what Travis is doing on the training pitch? And have you enjoyed working with him since you’ve arrived at the club?”

The Wallsend man replied: “Yeah, the coaches are doing some really great work. I’m sitting here and answering the questions, but there’s a lot of work that goes on underneath that. It’s been a big focus of ours, to be honest, in terms of individuals and narrowing things down and trying to help the players. I think I spoke of that from the start, trying to develop them. Travis has been a big part of that in so many ways as has Steve, Woody, and Johnny, and Craig. So I think it’s a bit of everything, really. A little bit on the pitch, a little bit one-on-one, a little bit in the meeting room. And as much as everything, just conversation and relationships and connections and support, I think this is important. We try and provide for all the players.”

“It’s not always easy to just flick a switch and perform. So there’s so many different elements that we try and provide this support and help for, and then trying to trying to get improvement and trying to push the players to be better. And I think we’ve made some good gains in some of those instances.”

“Does Travis work with the strikers individually?” the reporter asked. “Because I know Jonathan Woodgate has been doing a lot of work with the defenders.”

“Yeah, we split it up,” he confirmed. “Naturally, it takes its course, I think. Any coaching team, you try and spread it. So again, building relationships a little bit, having eyes on certain things. And I think it helps with the players to know and feel that connection with certain coaches to then really invest in that improvement process, really. So Trav, he’s done quite a bit of work with the forwards. Sometimes as a unit, sometimes as a group, sometimes as individuals. So it’s just constant, really, and trying to keep improving.”

Playing twice a week

The next reporter was interested in the fact that United will play twice this week, and asked “is this part of stress testing the squad and seeing how they react? So after quite many weeks with no midweek games, to see how they react going in one to the other against two teams that are playing in Europe?”

Carrick responded: “In some ways, yeah. We obviously had the West Ham midweek game, I think it was a long time ago now, but it wasn’t probably that long ago. Listen, as a squad, as a group of players, over the careers, the boys are used to it. So it’s not something all of a sudden that’s really new. It feels a bit fresh because we haven’t had much, but it’s not really such a big deal, really. I think we’re in good shape and the boys got enough experience and know what this league is game to game. And if you got to play them close together, then you’ve got to be ready for the next one.”

On Luke Shaw’s fitness

“I just want to ask you about Luke Shaw”, another reporter said. “He started every game for United this season. He’s had his injury issues in the past. How impressed have you been with him that he’s someone you can now rely on every single match to play as long as you need him?”

The manager replied: “He’s in a good place, Luke. I think, again, experience helps that in terms of managing load, managing your body, understanding what it is to get through a season and putting a group of games together. I think that in itself is probably underestimated. If you came to a game and be fit for the next game, but actually he’s been able to do it over a long period of time, sometimes a bit of adjusting. He’s been good for a long time, Luke, and especially this season to have that consistency just shows how much experience has helped him.”

Lisandro Martinez injury

Another reporter wanted to know about Lisandro Martinez, asking “What can you tell us about his current health and how does the team respond when you don’t have a player of his talent?”

“They responded well. They kept a clean sheet, so they responded well!” Carrick laughed. “I thought Leny came in and did ever so well. But Licha, he was a small issue. So he’s getting closer. He won’t be out for very long. So we’ll just monitor him over the next day, two, three, four days, and see when he can come back. But he’s not far away.”

The first part of the presser is available here.

Featured image by James Fearn/Getty Images

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