United’s victory over their biggest rivals must have lifted his spirits considerably. Goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesco gave Carrick’s side a 2-0 lead at the end of the first half.
However, Liverpool hit back early in the second half with performances from Dominik Szoboszlai and Kodi Gakpo. Koby Mainu’s thunderous strike from the edge of the area earned United the three points and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Afterwards, Carrick said: “I don’t know the latest at the moment. I heard about it before the game. All I can say is that I was very affected by it. We just hope he’s okay.”
“I don’t know the latest, but we hope he’s feeling better, we wish him the best and we’re definitely thinking of him. And I hope the results will listen to him and give him a good boost.”
The result put United six points clear of Liverpool, cementing their place in third place in the Premier League and cementing Carrick’s bid for a permanent role. Match-winner Mainu believes the caretaker manager deserves to remain in the role next season.
“He (Carrick) played a big role,” he said. “Confidence not only in me but in all the players. We want to follow him, fight for him and die on the pitch. That’s what we showed today.
“It’s a credit to the players and the coach that we were able to turn things around like we have so far. We’re just looking forward, but we still need to finish the season on a strong note. That’s not enough. We just want to keep winning and keep winning.”
