‘It’s important to be tactically flexible’ – Manchester United defender Harry Maguire praises Michael Carrick’s versatility ahead of game against West Ham

Maguire has been a central figure in Carrick’s success, starting all four of their wins and believes the team must be ready to dominate football matches with and without the ball.

“I think you have to be comfortable and dominate not only when you have the ball but also when you don’t have the ball,” the England international told TNT Sports.

“We always know with our players that we are a threat on the counter-attack.

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“I was happy to take the lead against Manchester City, absorb a bit of pressure and be comfortable defending the box.

“I think that’s the main thing we improved in the last three games. We defended the box better and with more urgency.”

“I’ve said it in several interviews before, we didn’t protect the box enough.

“They had chances every time the ball went into the box, but the last three games have been more tense.

“Not just the defenders, but also the midfielders, the wide men coming back and the strikers defending the edge of the box.

“I think it’s very important to do what we do as a team.

“We need to have good spacing across the pitch.

“We have to make sure we are compact.

“I think when you[Owen Hargreaves]were playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, you were chasing some teams, you were content in the mid-block, you were content to defend down low.

“I think Michael will bring it.

“I think it’s important to be tactically flexible in that regard.”

The last time Manchester United won four consecutive games in the Premier League was between 1 February 2024 and 18 February 2024, when they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham, Aston Villa and Luton Town.

Their recent form has seen them rise above rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in the standings.

The Red Devils are currently fourth in the table, one point behind Chelsea and five points behind Arne Slott’s team in sixth place.

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Maguire believes Carrick’s knowledge of the club from his days as a player, and his work as a coach with former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, helped ease the transition following the departure of Ruben Amorim.

“I think[Carrick being at Manchester United]definitely made things easier,” Maguire added.

“I knew Carrick from working for Ole Gunnar Solskjær and when we spoke in the dressing room at the time he spoke really well.

“He took part in quite a few meetings and tactically he always had a great football mind.

“When he adopted the tactics under Ole, he could always say that if he wanted to be a successful manager, he could do it.”