Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick admits he feels “pretty natural” in the role after the 3-2 victory over Liverpool not only secured Champions League football but strengthened his claims to be permanently appointed to the job.
Double over rivals
United’s first league double over their arch-rivals since the 2015-16 season came after Kobbie Mainoo capped a personally significant week with the winner just days after signing a new contract. His goal avoided some embarrassment after efforts from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the opening 14 minutes were cancelled out by Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo following mistakes early in the second half.
“It has been a good run, we have beaten some very good teams and it’s been challenging,” said Carrick. “I love doing what I am doing, it’s a great position for me to be in and it feels pretty natural if I’m totally honest. I’m not being blase because it’s a difficult role but it feels like I’ve been here a long time on and off and I understand what it brings and to be sat in this position is a good position to be in.”
Full-time hopes
Asked if he would be disappointed not to get the job full-time, Carrick added: “We will have to wait and see. When we came in (the) Champions League was a little bit in the distance and we wanted to get back into Europe and to be there with three games to spare is a big achievement. It has just been a step, we’re not over-celebrating it. Whatever it is going to happen is going to happen.”
Slot's frustration
Liverpool boss Arne Slot felt United’s second should have been disallowed for a handball by Sesko, which he said continued a pattern of decisions going against them. However, he was more angry about conceding a “ridiculous” goal. “It wasn’t necessary to be 2-0 down and it wasn’t necessary to lose this game today,” he said. “If you concede after six minutes in this stadium you always know you are going to face a struggle period afterwards. One of the first times we lost the ball they counter-attacked and made it 2-0 and of course everything you do before deserves a lot of criticism but I don’t think there was that much difference between the first and second half.”
“I don’t think it is a surprise to anyone this season if there is a VAR decision then that decision goes against us because that’s been the whole season, every single time the same. But the second goal we did not concede because of handball, we conceded it because we lost it in a stupid position and we lost a few big moments afterwards in duels. This is a complete pattern over the whole season but there is also a pattern that we concede ridiculous goals when we are the better team, one or two (players) switching off and then we conceded a goal. That we have more influence on and I should focus much more on that than these referee decisions, which go against us but it is clear that it is the whole season the same.”
Liverpool could have secured their own Champions League qualification with a victory and still should as they have a six-point cushion to sixth-placed Bournemouth. “I wouldn’t say concerned is the right word but I am completely aware we need three points, which is why I was so annoyed we didn’t pick them up today,” Slot added. “If you are 2-2 coming back from 2-0 down you should at least come away with a result, which we didn’t.”
