Michael Carrick has now broken down the importance of the “role” that Kobbie Mainoo has been designated in his Manchester United tactical set-up under his reign.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend was asked about Kobbie Mainoo during his post-match press conference after the West Ham match on Tuesday evening.
Who was Manchester United’s Man of the Match vs West Ham?
Michael Carrick saw the Red Devils drop points for the first time during his interim head coach reign after Man Utd’s 1-1 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium.
United trailed West Ham for the majority of the second half after Tomas Soucek broke the deadlock only five minutes after play restarted in the Premier League clash.
However, Carrick avoided the first defeat of his United tenure after summer signing Benjamin Sesko scored a stunning first-time volley deep into injury time.
Michael Carrick on the Man Utd midfield dynamic between Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro after the West Ham match
Kobbie Mainoo came close to registering his third assist in five Premier League matches under interim boss Michael Carrick in Manchester United’s latest outing.
Casemiro netted a superb header from a stunning Kobbie Mainoo cross in the second half on Tuesday, only for VAR to rule out the potential equaliser.
Mainoo has impressed since Carrick’s appointment as Man Utd interim manager and has started and played the full 90 minutes of his last five Premier League matches.
What did Michael Carrick get right with his game management vs West Ham?
Carrick has now explained how Mainoo differs from teammate Casemiro in their two-man midfield pivot, despite the pair ‘complementing’ one another on the pitch.
“He plays his role so well in the team, and has that partnership with Casemiro and they complement each other,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“He tries to connect the team with or without the ball and bring everything together. He starts so many of our moves, and he brings so much to the team.”
Michael Carrick opens up on his attacking set-up at Man Utd after the options at his disposal
Carrick has been spoiled for choice with his attacking options, but even the Red Devils legend admitted his side lacked balance in the first half on Tuesday.
“It’s about different games and the situations,” he said.
“We didn’t quite get the balance right for the first part of the game if we’re being honest. That happens; teams are allowed to stop you from scoring!
“We kept going, we mixed things up and because we have that flexibility, we managed to find a solution.”
United will now travel to Goodison Park on 23rd February and the Red Devils will return to Premier League action against Everton for an 8pm kick-off time in the UK.
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