Manchester United is set to play AC Milan in a pre-season friendly on Saturday in Poland. This match will see Ruben Amorim, formerly associated with Old Trafford, meet Michael Carrick.
A year ago, Marcus Rashford was at Barcelona, Carrick had recently been dismissed by Championship side Middlesbrough, and Amorim was preparing for his initial full season at Old Trafford. Now, they are in the same location under different circumstances.
Changes under Carrick’s leadership
Rashford has returned under new management, which is not entirely new for him, as he finds Carrick, his former teammate and captain. Carrick is offering Rashford an opportunity to continue his story that began in Manchester a decade ago.
Amorim, who was dismissed five months into the last season, took over at AC Milan this summer. He aims to conclude a pre-season without a win by securing a victory against his former club. Carrick’s progress in his role has been described as stoic, contrasting with the events surrounding Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford.
Rashford’s return adds another layer of interest, as Amorim had previously felt it necessary to move him on due to public questioning of the England international’s attitude. The pre-season encounter between United and AC Milan on Saturday is being viewed as more than just a friendly.
This pre-season finale for both teams offers a chance to reflect on the past year and how United managed a mid-season change to begin a new era. Carrick has implemented several changes since Amorim’s departure.
Amorim’s refusal to adapt was a notable aspect of his time at Old Trafford. He was tasked with improving results and introduced a formation he favoured. Despite scrutiny, Amorim stated that he would not change his 3-4-3 system, which ultimately contributed to his downfall. When the squad numbers decreased due to the Africa Cup of Nations, he struggled to find a solution to maintain results.
Towards the end of his period in charge, there were some indications of adaptation, but Amorim eventually reverted to his preferred style. This was reportedly a source of tension between him and the United hierarchy. There was a difference between the direction Amorim was taking the team and what United fans desired. Although United were among the high-scoring teams at times under Amorim, the three-at-the-back formation was not what fans were accustomed to or willing to accept long-term.
Similar issues are reportedly affecting his early days in Milan, with suggestions of confusion within the squad as players are reportedly being made to fit the system.
In Carrick’s initial match as manager, a clear strategy was evident, which was described as more aligned with “Manchester United” traditions. Carrick allowed the team to play freely in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, creating numerous attacking opportunities against Manchester City. United’s 2-0 victory was seen as flattering to their opponents, who avoided a larger defeat.
United’s attacking approach has continued into pre-season, with an emphasis on moving the ball forward quickly. Summer signing Andrey Santos has aimed to break defensive lines with forward passes, and Bryan Mbeumo has performed well centrally, consistently making runs behind defences and disrupting opponents.
Bruno Fernandes benefited significantly from Carrick’s arrival, being moved to his preferred No 10 position, where he went on a creative streak, setting a new assist record in the Premier League. Under Carrick, concerns about United’s playing style have diminished.
Renewed optimism at Old Trafford
The atmosphere at Old Trafford has shifted, starting with the leadership. Amorim’s public outbursts, while sometimes entertaining, fostered a negative environment around the club. His comments, ranging from discussions of challenges to calling the team the worst in the club’s history, often did not inspire confidence.
When Amorim was dismissed, United were close to a top-four position, but his demeanour and messages to fans often did not reflect this. Carrick guided United to secure a Champions League spot, which Amorim had previously indicated his team was not prepared for.
Ahead of the new season, there is considerable optimism. Leny Yoro and Mbeumo have expressed their ambition to win the league this season, and Carrick has supported his squad’s aspirations. Carrick believes his team has the potential for a special season, a year after the previous management had United struggling near the bottom of the league.
Opportunities for redemption
Under Amorim, there was a perception that if a player fell out of favour, their time at United was over. This was a firm stance for a manager, especially given previous scrutiny over the squad’s character.
Alejandro Garnacho experienced this, and it appeared Kobbie Mainoo might follow suit. Rashford also had two loan spells after his position in the squad became uncertain. Amorim may feel his decision regarding Garnacho was justified, as the player is currently on loan at Aston Villa after a period at Chelsea. However, his handling of Mainoo has been questioned. The midfielder became a key player in Carrick’s team and was nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year, despite not starting a league game until January.
The situation with Rashford is still developing. His ability to influence the United team with his quality was never in doubt. Amorim had concerns about Rashford’s general conduct, so his impressive performances at Villa and a LaLiga-winning campaign at Barcelona will need to be supported by a willingness to align with the current club culture, should he remain beyond September’s deadline.
However, Carrick has provided an opportunity for Rashford to return when his United career seemed uncertain. Whether this will be successful remains to be seen, but Carrick appears committed to offering second chances through his man-management. The match between Manchester United and AC Milan is scheduled for Saturday, 15 August.
Source: bbc.co.uk