Carrick on the midfield: ‘We're improving the connections’
VAVEL.com · Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere; VAVEL com · 2026-09-11T10:06:18+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Michael Carrick commented on the Manchester United midfield after the 4-0 win over Sabah.
Recruitment was required in the engine room especially after the injury for Manuel Ugarte and exit of Casemiro. The board backed the head coach with the Premier League based signings of Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Carlos Baleba from Brighton.
·‘We have got the technical ability for the boys to get the ball’
Kobbie Mainoo is also in the mix, excelling since his return to the starting eleven against Ipswich Town at the end of August. He was again present in the pivot with Tielemans on Thursday evening, while Santos and Mason Mount appeared on the pitch during the second half at Old Trafford.
Baleba has not yet made his debut for the Red Devils as he recovers from an ankle injury, but that gives the other midfielders more opportunities to forge new relationships at the start of the season.
"We've got good players, that helps, to start with. It's nice to be able to get Andrey and Mason on for the second half. I keep saying the same things but it's the little bit on connections, combinations and taking the ball and playing close together, at times.
“We have got the technical ability for the boys to get the ball in the middle of the pitch and play to their strengths. We can certainly get better and improve, but I think a lot of it is being on the same wavelength and understanding.
“As a coach, you can only give them so much on principles, but it's the way they want the ball and developing connections. That's something we've done a bit more this season, maybe we didn't have it as much in games last season, playing that way. It's good to see we're improving in the connections.
"All four midfielders carried on the same way. Obviously, Mason coming on at half-time, and it was great to get him back on the pitch after missing a short period of time, and Andrey has settled in fantastically well. Kobbie and Youri have played more minutes, and you can see the understanding.
“I think Youri has settled in well and I thought he was really good tonight again. Kobbie's just been really consistent all the way through, so we've got really good options. It's good to see the understanding between all of them and we can call upon when we need to."