Michael Carrick has dropped a powerful verdict on his tactical approach to Manchester United’s 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend was forced to make five changes to his starting XI for the Premier League visit to the Stadium of Light at the weekend.
Michael Carrick was without Casemiro for Man Utd’s clash with Sunderland, while Benjamin Sesko had been sidelined with an injury that he picked up last weekend.
Mason Mount returned to the United starting XI in the absence of Casemiro and striker Joshua Zirkzee led the frontline in place of the injured Benjamin Sesko.
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Michael Carrick’s immediate reaction to Man Utd’s performance against Sunderland after his five tactical changes
Alongside Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez started ahead of Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui was picked ahead of Diogo Dalot.
Amad Diallo also made his return to the Manchester United starting XI against Sunderland after Bryan Mbeumo was dropped to the bench for the match.
Speaking after United’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland, Michael Carrick insisted that it is “hard to be negative” about the outcome after his tactical changes for the match.
“It’s one game; it’s the time of the season,” he told Premier League Productions, as per BBC Sport.
“We’ve done a lot of good work and some changes today and I thought the attitude of the boys was really good.
“Today is a positive result in terms of the point. Was it going to be a perfect game?
“We weren’t expecting a perfect game. It is what it is. It’s not something we need to overthink and it’s hard to be negative.”
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Michael Carrick on the Premier League performances of the five Man Utd players that he brought into the starting XI
Zirkzee and Amad Diallo were both withdrawn in the second half, while Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Mount played the full 90 minutes for United.
Carrick made it clear that the five players who were brought into the starting XI were not “on trial” and he felt United could have done better overall on Saturday.
“As a team, we could have been a bit better, but we know what the boys can do,” he added.
“Everyone has contributed in such a good way, I’m pleased with the overall connection, communication and willingness to work for each other today.”
United are third in the Premier League table and the Red Devils are six points clear of fourth-place Liverpool going into their final two matches this season.
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