Man Utd Observers ‘blown away’ by key change Carrick introduced; Amorim’s authoritarian approach revealed

Manchester United have returned to winning ways under Michael Carrick, and close observers would attribute the noticeable improvements to the new training methods.

The 44-year-old took over from Ruben Amorim, who was shown the door in early January. Darren Fletcher served as caretaker for a couple of matches before resuming his duties with Man Utd U18, making way for the more experienced Carrick .

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While the final judgement is reserved until the end of the season, the Englishman’s first 45 days in charge have been a resounding success, with the team registering five wins and one draw in six Premier League fixtures. This remarkable run includes victories of Man City, Arsenal, and Spurs.

Needless to say, Carrick’s tactical tweaks have paid dividends , as most players have returned to their most accustomed roles, including Bruno Fernandes (attacking midfielder), Amad Diallo (right winger), and Luke Shaw (left-back).

Nevertheless, The Telegraph journalist James Ducker argues that training regime change has been equally significant.

Michael Carrick gestures from the touchline at the Emirates. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

As club insiders had already reported, Man Utd’s training sessions are now shorter, yet more intense, with the technical staff maximising the 75 minutes or so they have with the players on the pitch.

The source reveals that regular observers have been ‘blown away’ by the level of intensity displayed during the sessions.

Interestingly, MUFC legend Wayne Rooney, who is a regular customer at Carrington (especially with son Kai now featuring for the club’s U18), had revealed that Carrick had decided to put an abrupt end to training ahead of the Arsenal game, as he wanted some of that tenacity reserved for matchday.

In addition to the change in intensity on the training ground, observers also noticed a major difference between Carrick and Amorim in their communication with their technical collaborators.

As Ducker explains, the Portuguese manager was supported by young coaches who often had to wait for his signal to speak.

On the contrary, Carrick surrounded himself with a more experienced staff that includes former England assistant coach, Steve Holland, his long-time assistant Jonathan Woodgate, and his former MUFC teammate Jonny Evans.

Each of the Englishman’s collaborators has been encouraged to freely speak their mind. They tend to filter their ideas at the office before coming out with a shared plan.

All in all, Carrick has thus far succeeded in restoring calamity at Carrington, but it remains to be seen how he and staff will navigate the inevitable storms to come.