Michael Carrick has taken training for the first time since being appointed Manchester United head coach as he received a welcome boost ahead of the crunch clash with Manchester City.
Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo were involved in the session at Carrington on Wednesday after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations as the players reported for training after two days off following the FA Cup defeat by Brighton.
Amad and Mbeumo being back with the squad will give a lift to their team-mates – and Carrick – ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Their respective nations – Ivory Coast and Cameroon – both went out of AFCON in Morocco at the quarter-final stage, to the relief of Man United fans who had seen their side struggle in their absence.
Carrick, 44, was chosen ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be United’s head coach until the end of the season after the club sacked Ruben Amorim. His appointment was announced by the club on Tuesday.
The former United midfielder will be assisted by former England No.2 Steve Holland and his old Middlesbrough first-team coach Jonathan Woodgate.
Michael Carrick took his first training session as Manchester United head coach on Wednesday
Carrick put his players through their paces ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday
Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo are back in training after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations
Carrick appeared in good spirits as he put his players through their paces as they prepare to face Man City in three days’ time.
Speaking on Tuesday, Carrick set out how he expects his team to play. ‘Hopefully we can play a really exciting type of football,’ he told United’s Inside Carrington podcast.
‘I want to be off my seat and enjoying watching the boys play. I’m buzzing to get started and see what we can do.
‘I’m one of the fans myself. Trust me, my family’s on my case. I know the responsibility’s there, and I’m desperate for us to do well.’
Describing his return to the club where he was a player for 12 years, first-team coach and caretaker boss for three games in 2021, Carrick said: ‘It’s unbelievable feeling to come back through the doors and be part of the club again – it’s been part of my life for so long and never really left me.
‘Coming to work was giving me butterflies in a really good way. I felt the love and everyone willing to kind of pull in the right direction.
‘But it also feels very natural, to be honest, very normal. I understand the job and the responsibility I’ve got.
‘It’s a big old football club, my favourite one in the world. The highs are high and the disappointments can be low, and that’s why it’s worth the effort to try and get there because it means something.’
Steve Holland, Carrick’s No 2, was also seen out on the training ground at Carrington
Ex-England and Chelsea assistant Holland was also seen on the pitch at Carrington after his surprise appointment to Carrick’s backroom staff.
Carrick welcomed the addition of Holland and Woodgate to his backroom team, saying: ‘Steve’s got, an unbelievable wealth of experience at Chelsea.
‘Jonathan is loyal and very knowledgeable. He’s the perfect balance for me, I think that’s important you know. He pushes me. He has done for the last three years and he’ll keep doing.’
Carrick inherits a team currently seventh in the table with the aim of qualifying for Europe this season after United were dumped out of both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle.
The 44-year-old couldn’t wish for a harder start with trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal following the visit of Man City to Old Trafford.
Noussair Mazraoui is still at AFCON, while Shea Lacey is also out of the derby after being sent off for two yellow cards against Brighton.
