Michael Carrick has taken the Manchester United squad to Dublin for a four-day training camp, aiming to restore focus and freshness during an unusually long gap between matches. United have not played since a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on March 20, and their next game is against Leeds on Monday, creating a 24-day break.
Carrick explained that the trip was designed to break the routine and rebuild team spirit. “There are different reasons,” he said. “I think there's a little bit of freshness, little bit of focus again, of getting everyone back together and spending some time here. Having a bit of lunch and a bit of dinner, and a few activities where we can kind of have that connection and spirit again.”
The squad of 25 players includes injured duo Lisandro Martinez and Patrick Dorgu, as well as academy youngsters Fred Heath, Yuel Helafu, Jim Thwaites and Victor Musa. Assistant coach Steve Holland, who worked with Gareth Southgate for England, highlighted the importance of the camp. “Our last game, Bournemouth to Leeds, is a Premier League record I think, in terms of time between games,” he said. “I think we felt it was important to get the whole group together again, and really focus on finishing the season well.”
United sit third in the Premier League with seven games remaining, having taken 23 points from a possible 30 under Carrick. Holland set a bold objective: “I think the language we should be using as this club is to finish as close as we possibly can to the top. I don’t know how possible that is, but that has to be the challenge always.” He added that while a Champions League place would be good, the club should always aim higher.
