Bruno Fernandes reveals four changes Michael Carrick has made at Manchester United | Soccer | Sports

Manager Bruno Fernandes has attributed Michael Carrick’s success to four main changes: selecting different players, adjusting player roles, adopting alternative formations and a new ability to find the back of Manchester United’s net. Ruben Amorim was sacked in January after just 14 months at Old Trafford. Amorim oversaw United’s worst season in 51 years, enduring defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.

In the Premier League, Amorim had the club’s lowest winning percentage (32 percent), highest goals conceded per game (1.53) and lowest clean sheet rate (15 percent). Carrick has been named interim head coach, replacing Amorim, until the end of the season in mid-January. The former midfielder is now in a strong position to secure the role permanently after leading United to third place in the Premier League.

Koby Mainu was recalled to the starting XI and Carrick made changes to the team’s formation, including Brian Mbeumo, which Fernandes cited as one of the reasons for the manager’s success since taking over as interim manager.

“Obviously, we changed some things. He changed some players, changed some players’ positions, tried different formations. And at the end of the day, we started scoring goals,” he told Men in Blazers.

“We were creating a lot. In terms of goal creation and chances, we were at the top when Ruben was here, but we just couldn’t get it done. And then we were probably one of the best teams that didn’t let the opponent get in the box, but we’re going to concede more goals.”

“We started to be more compact when defending and realized that there were moments where we had to suffer because they weren’t great moments. So I think we made sacrifices in the first few games…I won’t say we were lucky, but it was good for us to have two big games right away.”

“Because if we beat City and then we beat Arsenal at the Emirates, I think we’ll be fine, we’re playing good football right now and I’m sure we’ll win. I think the game against City was when we played our best. Against Arsenal we made the most of it and found a way to win.”

“Sometimes big clubs have to find a way to win games. Whether it’s pretty or not, they have to find a way to get a result.”

Fernandes was full of praise for Carrick, naming him the former United player he would most like to play alongside. “I wouldn’t choose Rooney because he would be on the bench,” he said.

“It may sound strange, but Michael Carrick. I used to train with him when he was here under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Sometimes he would train with us as a number six and play the ball between the lines and he was fantastic.”

“As a number 10 you want to pass as quickly as possible and he had great timing with his passes. Sometimes it’s not about having the ball for too long, it’s about giving the ball to your teammates as quickly as possible. He was great in that respect and for me it’s perfect to have a player like that behind me.”