Former Teammate Spots Immediate Transformation Under Carrick at Manchester United
Michael Carrick has enjoyed a perfect winning start as Manchester United's interim manager, with a former teammate now revealing the crucial reasons behind his early success at Old Trafford. Marlon Harewood, who lined up alongside Carrick during their time together at West Ham United, has provided unique insight into why the 44-year-old is already making such a positive impact.
Immediate Impact Since Taking Over
In his second stint in temporary charge of the Red Devils, Carrick has masterminded two significant Premier League victories that have captured attention across English football. Since replacing the departed Ruben Amorim, Carrick has overseen an impressive 2-0 derby triumph against Manchester City followed by a remarkable 3-2 away victory over league leaders Arsenal.
While Carrick was initially brought in simply to steady the ship until a permanent successor is appointed in the summer, his reputation continues to grow with each passing week. The club is expected to name Amorim's permanent replacement ahead of next season, but Carrick's interim tenure is proving increasingly impressive.
Harewood's Four Key Factors for Success
Harewood, who shared a dressing room with Carrick at West Ham for nearly a year, has identified several crucial elements contributing to his former teammate's early achievements in one of football's most demanding roles.
"Mike is a good guy. I know what he's like from when I played with him at West Ham," Harewood explained during an appearance on the In The Mixer podcast.
The former West Ham striker then outlined four specific reasons for Carrick's positive start:
- Respect through mannerisms: "He's well respected with his mannerisms and how he carries himself."
- Club understanding: "He also knows what the club is like and how to get the best out of it."
- Strong support network: "He's got a lot of good people around him who want to help him."
- Player communication: "He also knows how to talk to the players."
Harewood concluded by pointing to the visible evidence of Carrick's impact: "Just look at the reaction of the players. Any team that goes into a game and starts running the way they have and producing what they have is a credit to Michael. I think that's a credit to him as a person."
Lescott's Perspective on Carrick's Management Style
Former England defender Joleon Lescott, who also knows Carrick well from their time together in the national squad, offered additional perspective on why the interim manager is succeeding where his predecessor struggled.
"I think definitely he's a great person and that is key," Lescott stated. "If the environment's not been great, then someone comes in and changes how you feel about coming into work, then you're obviously going to get a reaction."
Lescott highlighted a crucial tactical difference between Carrick and Amorim's approaches: "He's also asking players to do what they're familiar with. No one is playing in a position they aren't used to playing in. It's insane that Amorim was doing that and was doing things where he'd say, 'Well, play this way.' And it probably suited four of the 11 players."
The former Manchester City defender continued: "And those four players weren't even the best. Now you're asking eight, nine players to do what they are good at and making them feel good about doing it."
When asked whether he anticipated Carrick moving into management during their playing days, Lescott responded positively: "You could see that he had the ability. The understanding was never gonna be in question. The type of manager I think he is and I've heard he is. Yes. That's the type of manager I expected him to become."
Building Momentum at Old Trafford
Carrick's immediate impact represents a significant turnaround for Manchester United following Amorim's 14-month tenure, which ended with the Portuguese manager being shown the door at Old Trafford. The contrast between the two approaches has become increasingly apparent through both results and player performances.
With Harewood and Lescott both emphasizing Carrick's personal qualities, communication skills, and tactical pragmatism, the interim manager appears to have created an environment where players feel valued and understood. This psychological shift, combined with a more familiar tactical setup, has yielded immediate dividends on the pitch.
As Manchester United continue their search for a permanent manager ahead of next season, Carrick's interim success raises interesting questions about his longer-term future at the club. His ability to generate positive reactions from players and secure important results against top opposition has certainly strengthened his managerial credentials during this temporary assignment.
