Michael Carrick has changed Manchester United's midfield to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League because he believes the team has been "a little bit open" in some matches this season.
Midfield tweak after Tottenham defeat
United lost the midfield battle against Tottenham last weekend. Carrick stuck by Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, but that trio struggled against an energetic Spurs side.
Carrick has tweaked the midfield to face Atletico on Tuesday night, giving starts to Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos, moving Tielemans into the No.10 role.
Carrick's explanation
Fernandes will either play on the right side of the attack or as a false nine. Speaking to Amazon Prime, Carrick said of his midfield selection: "Yeah, we want a lot more control in the game, really. I think in certain games we've been a little bit open and we want to try and change that and make a difference in that way, you know?
"We've had to make changes where we think that we need them and that we think are important for tonight in certain spaces, certain things that we need to pull off, certain spaces on the pitch that we can attack and make the most of."
"That's always the same when you make a plan, you know, when you go into these games, and the players are ready for it."
Flexibility in attack
Carrick added: "It's not really a big change in shape. Personnel a little bit, maybe placing different individuals in certain positions, but a lot of it's similar. So that's what I say about having more control in the game.
"We want a bit more control without the ball and we want a lot more control with it within the game."
When asked to confirm that Fernandes would play on the right side of the attack, he said: "We'll have to wait and see. We'll have to wait and see. I think we've got a bit of flexibility within the team as well to adjust to it, but happy with the way it gives us options."
