Man Utd: Shaping Up for the Premier League Season under Michael Carrick
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Man Utd: How Michael Carrick’s side are preparing for the upcoming Premier League season
"First and foremost, we want to win," said Michael Carrick when asked about his desired style of football. But he added, "we want to be excited—that’s why we love this club."
Carrick echoes the philosophy of Sir Alex Ferguson, who emphasized the importance of entertaining fans. After recent attempts to adopt a possession-heavy style, Carrick aims to revive Manchester United’s traditional "DNA" with a balanced approach.
Tactical Insights from Pre-Season
Balancing Fast Attacks and Controlled Possession
Squad Shape:
Understanding the squad’s shape is crucial, but it’s the tactical principles that drive United’s play:
- Build-up Play: Carrick encourages short passing, reverting to a more risky but traditional approach.
- Goal-kicks: A 4-2-4 formation with Senne Lammens playing long passes from between the central defenders.
- Fluid Attacking: The front four rotate positions, creating fluidity and making off-the-ball runs.
Breaking Pressure with Trios
Carrick’s United deviate from Ruben Amorim’s pre-planned passing routines. Instead, they rely on:
- Uncharted Triangle Passings: Players create clusters of threes to break pressure and escape through less choreographed passing.
- Pre-season Coaching: This tactic has been reinforced, emphasizing player understanding and support.
