Man Utd is on a high under Carrick, having won all four matches against Man City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham. This marks the first time the Red Devils have achieved such a streak in the Premier League in two years, climbing to fourth position with 44 points, ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool.

Coach Michael Carrick celebrates after Man Utd's 2-0 victory over Tottenham in matchday 25 of the Premier League at Old Trafford stadium, Manchester, England on 7/2. Photo: PA Wire

While often emphasizing that Man Utd must not get overly excited, Carrick views enjoying the feeling of victory as essential. "You have to allow yourself to enjoy the feeling of winning. That's why we play football", he said on 9/2 at a press conference before the match against West Ham in matchday 26 of the Premier League. "You can't always maintain a flat emotional state. If you don't allow yourself to feel those waves of emotion, then everything becomes boring and meaningless".

Carrick believes it is important to balance the joy of victory with preparation for the next match. He stressed that Man Utd gains confidence from positive results, but must not become complacent in a demanding environment like the Premier League.

"Winning feels good, but the biggest challenge is understanding what got you there, and what you need to do to keep winning at this level. You should never assume the next match will be fine", the 44-year-old coach added.

Unlike his former mentor Alex Ferguson, who was known for being demanding even after victories to avoid complacency, Carrick believes everything has its appropriate time. "Now is not the time to evaluate how successful we are", he stated. "The reality is that nothing has truly happened yet. Hopefully, from now until the end of the season, the team still has a lot of work to do, and only then will we know what comes next".

Following the victory over Tottenham, captain Bruno Fernandes praised Carrick for bringing a spirit of unity, freedom, and responsibility to the Man Utd players. The English manager responded to this statement: "I have a very good relationship with Bruno. He is intelligent, deeply cares about the club, and we all want the best for the team. It is naturally pleasant to be spoken of well by players you respect, but the most important thing remains the collective and how the entire team progresses together".

Man Utd players celebrate Bryan Mbeumo's opening goal. Photo: Reuters

Regarding tactics, Carrick further shared how he empowers creative freedom for attacking players, especially Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, and the midfielders playing behind the striker. "When players perform their roles correctly, they have a certain degree of flexibility", he explained. "Of course, it's not complete freedom for anyone to do whatever they want, but flexibility in how they move and appear in different areas of the pitch".

According to the English manager, Fernandes is a player who understands tactical roles very well and can perform them effectively. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha also show similar versatility, capable of playing as a center forward or winger, making the squad more dynamic.

"That gives us more attacking options. Amad naturally prefers playing on the wing, so his role is a bit more predictable. But overall, this flexibility is very important, as long as the entire team maintains proper spacing and positioning without the ball", Carrick emphasized.

If Man Utd wins against West Ham today, they will temporarily move up to third in the Premier League, before Aston Villa plays Brighton at Villa Park on 11/2.

By Hong Duy