Michael Carrick has offered a reassuring response to questions about the pressure of managing Manchester United, telling former teammate Wayne Rooney that the role 'feels pretty natural'. The 44-year-old, who signed a two-year contract on Friday, becomes the club's first British permanent manager in over a decade.
Speaking on United's official YouTube channel, Carrick dismissed concerns about the weight of expectation at Old Trafford. 'It feels pretty natural,' he said. 'Even though it's different, the building's different, some of the people are different, it's kind of what you get used to from 20 years ago since I signed. So it's all I've kind of known, really.'
Carrick's calm demeanour will ease fans' worries after several predecessors struggled under the strain. Despite limited senior coaching experience—only a two-and-a-half-year spell at Middlesbrough before taking over United in January—he has guided the club to third place in the Premier League and Champions League qualification.
The former England midfielder highlighted the seamless transition, saying: 'It's a bigger role than what I've had before but actually it just feels like a natural step, to be fair. It's nice to be here. A lot of responsibility but it's good. I'm really enjoying it.'
United ended their season with a 3-0 win at Brighton, a side they have historically found difficult. Bruno Fernandes set a Premier League assist record in that match and was named Player of the Season, underscoring the progress under Carrick's stewardship.
