Manchester United have turned to a familiar face in a bid to steady the ship, appointing Michael Carrick as their interim manager until the end of the season. The former United midfielder, who enjoyed a brief but unbeaten caretaker spell at Old Trafford in 2021, returns just seven months after his departure from Championship side Middlesbrough.
A Return to Conventional Tactics
Carrick's arrival signals a significant tactical departure from the recent past. For over a year, the team operated under Ruben Amorim's distinctive 3-4-3 formation, a system that often required players to adapt to unfamiliar roles. Carrick is expected to implement a more traditional 4-2-3-1 setup, a structure designed to better suit the existing squad's strengths.
This shift will have immediate consequences for several key players. The defensive line will revert to a standard back four, meaning one centre-back from Amorim's trio will likely drop out, with Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Ayden Heaven, and Matthijs de Ligt competing for two spots.
Bruno Fernandes: The Big Winner?
The most notable beneficiary of the new system could be captain Bruno Fernandes. Under Amorim, the Portuguese playmaker was often deployed in a deeper, more conventional midfield role, which limited his attacking influence. Carrick's preference for a dedicated number ten position promises to unleash Fernandes further forward, reminiscent of his most prolific spells.
Carrick's success at Middlesbrough with Chuba Akpom, who scored 29 goals in the 2022/23 season operating as a number ten, offers a blueprint. With attacking wide options like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount, and Amad Diallo, Fernandes could rediscover his creative and goalscoring best.
Defensive Questions and Midfield Balance
However, Carrick's tenure at the Riverside Stadium also highlighted a potential vulnerability. His attacking style at Boro left them exposed on the counter-attack, a weakness noted by several Championship opponents. Addressing this in Manchester will be a priority, especially as the club lacks a specialist, elite ball-winning midfielder.
The options in the holding roles include Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo. The latter, who saw limited minutes under Amorim, could see his United career reignited. Carrick has already praised the academy graduate, hinting at a significant role: "To have a talent like that... let's help him, build on him, and stick with him."
Carrick will be supported by an experienced backroom team, including former England assistant Steve Holland as his number two. United will hope he can replicate the instant impact he had at Middlesbrough, where he lifted the team from the lower reaches of the table to the play-offs.
Predicted Manchester United Line-Up Under Carrick
Based on his preferred system and squad analysis, a potential United starting XI could be: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Dorgu; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.
