<figure id="attachment_3266490" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3266490" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3266490" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/8169cc06-michael-carrick-3.jpg" alt="Michael Carrick" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3266490" class="wp-caption-text">Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has been appointed until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
LONDON: Michael Carrick urged Manchester United to build on the remarkable start to his interim reign after Matheus Cunha&#8217;s rocket sealed a stunning 3-2 win at Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Carrick has been hired until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim&#8217;s dismissal on Jan 5.
The former United midfielder jumped at the chance to return to Old Trafford after being sacked by second-tier Middlesbrough in June.
United opted to go with a caretaker boss to give them time for a comprehensive search for a permanent success to Amorim.
But co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his army of advisers in the United hierarchy might have stumbled across the solution with their move for Carrick.
He has galvanised United to play in a far more vibrant manner than their timid displays under Amorim, securing a 2-0 victory over Manchester City in his first game before putting a dent in Arsenal&#8217;s title charge with an impressive win in north London.
United are up to fourth in the Premier League and Carrick praised the players for responding to his tactical demands.
&#8220;The boys have been fantastic in terms of taking things on, wanting to do it and investing into it. I think in the messages we&#8217;re giving them and how we behave. I&#8217;ve got belief in them and I try and show that,&#8221; Carrick said.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not so much the words, it&#8217;s easy for me to tell the players something, or the boys to speak about a game, but to have the feeling to really put it in.
&#8220;You&#8217;ve got to feel that confidence and that belief through and they&#8217;ve definitely got that and we need to keep that.&#8221;
&#8216;He knows the feeling&#8217;
Carrick has ditched Amorim&#8217;s preferred three-man defence in a switch that has allowed United to play with more balance.
The 44-year-old&#8217;s decision to deploy defender Patrick Dorgu in a more advanced attacking role has also paid off with goals against City and Arsenal.
Dorgu&#8217;s second-half strike at the Emirates Stadium whistled into the top corner to put United 2-1 up.
Lisandro Martinez&#8217;s own goal had given Arsenal a first-half lead before Bryan Mbeumo&#8217;s equaliser.
Mikel Merino looked to have rescued a point for Arsenal with his late leveller, but Brazilian forward Cunha lashed home from 20 yards in the 87th minute.
&#8220;I just think we understood the flow of the game. At times we were going to be feeling a little bit up against it and digging in. We wanted to try and take control as well,&#8221; Carrick said.
&#8220;The goals were fantastic, some of the football was good and we looked dangerous at certain times. It was a performance with a bit of everything.&#8221;
Cunha was quick to point out the difference between Amorim&#8217;s gloomy reign and Carrick&#8217;s upbeat presence.
&#8220;He knows the feeling, he played here so many years. He knows the feeling for Manchester, he knows the feeling for United. He knows how the fans want to feel,&#8221; Cunha said.
&#8220;He tried to show us every single moment, he tried to talk us to understand in moments and say &#8216;everyone is against us&#8217;, so I think we feel more together.&#8221;
Carrick, who spent 12 successful years as a United player, responded to Cunha&#8217;s glowing assessment by admitting he is relishing his unexpected opportunity.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been here less than two weeks and I&#8217;m desperate to do well and improve the team and finish as high as we can,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;And having days like this and last week is something you get greedy for and we want to keep building on this for weeks to come.&#8221;

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