Manchester United: Harry Maguire issues Michael Carrick verdict as key target within reach | OneFootball

Interim head coach has had a grand impact on Red Devils, on and off the pitch

Harry Maguire has lauded Michael Carrick’s impact as Manchester United head coach, saying the club’s results since his appointment ‘speak for themselves’.

The former United midfielder was brought in on a short-term deal after Ruben Amorim was sacked in January, and United’s fortunes have been on a dramatic upward trajectory since.

Monday night’s 2-1 defeat of Brentford leaves a return to the Champions League - Carrick’s primary goal as interim manager - well within reach.

While Carrick’s future with the club beyond this season is yet to be confirmed, Maguire could only speak in superlatives about his tenure to date.

He told Sky Sports: “I think obviously the results help that the feeling [of confidence about Michael Carrick] massively. We had two tough fixtures when Michael first come in, and I think everyone was probably looking at them thinking 'oh no', with Arsenal and Man City, and we managed to get the six points.

United’s success is down in no small part to Carrick’s preference for a back-four system, and Maguire insists there is still plenty of room for improvement.

“I think we can still get a lot better at this formation as well. I think we can work as a back force, slide across the pitch a lot quicker, like we should have done.

“The results speak for themselves, since the manager has come in, and the formation has changed, we just seemed to pick up results. I think that the games previous, when Ruben was here, the games were 50/50, but we always ended up on the back of a defeat.

“Now it seems like it's the other way around, where we're a lot better in both boxes. We defend our box a lot better, and we're managing to be clinical in the other box.”