Manchester Utd Youngsters Are So Exciting Says Michael Carrick
[/sport/teampages/manchester-united.html Manchester United] have had the rare luxury of four days undistracted training ahead of a mighty week; [/sport/teampages/aston-villa.html Aston Villa] on Sunday, [/sport/jose_mourinho/index.html Jose Mourinho]'s return to Old Trafford midweek and the Manchester derby next Saturday.
All the coaching has been delivered under the watchful eye of Michael Carrick, excused the Europa League trip to Astana like virtually all United's first-team squad, to focus on the triple-header ahead.
Carrick won every major trophy as a United player including the Champions League and five [/sport/premierleague/index.html Premier League] titles.
Michael Carrick has overseen Man United training ahead of a crucial week of fixtures
Carrick says United's youngsters need guidance but must also learn to deal with criticism
The 38-year-old says the club's youngsters will only improve through experience and graft
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His message to the current crop of youngsters, whose inconsistency has seen them beat Chelsea and Leicester but lose to Newcastle and West Ham, is that growing pains also happened to the legends he played with.
'All those great players from the past weren't ready-made by any stretch,' says Carrick, an important part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United coaching staff.
'We've got the youngest team in the league and they need a bit of guidance and help. But I was one of them when I was younger. Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) was one of them, so was Scholesy (Paul Scholes). They had to learn and make mistakes and improve.
'You learn from experience and by winning but everyone has to start somewhere. Cristiano (Ronaldo) is an example. He took a year or two to settle, then all of a sudden he found his feet and exploded.
Carrick is excited by potential of United's kids with Mason Greenwood touted as a future star
'We're aware of that. The players now have potential that is so exciting. I'm seeing them develop every day.'
Carrick's encouragement will mean a lot to Marcus Rashford, Daniel James and the other players being asked to step up at the biggest club in Britain.
Last weekend's thriller at Sheffield United was a microcosm of United's topsy-turvy season. 2-0 down and in turmoil, 3-2 up with great attacking play, and then conceding a late equaliser to prevent them rising to fifth in the table.
It didn't ease pressure on Solskjaer, particularly with Mauricio Pochettino on the market, but Carrick has seen it all before.
'We had stick at the start of 2007/08. We weren't playing well or scoring enough goals. We ended up with the Champions League and Premier League,' he recalls.
Carrick cited the progress of Scott McTominay as a sign that United are making progress
'You become totally oblivious to outside noise, that's the truth. The scrutiny and expectation is something you get used to. Everyone wants a piece of Manchester United, good or bad. You have to take it and when it's good, it's something special.
'Someone like Marcus has been at Manchester United since he was a kid. He knows the place inside-out, what is expected and acknowledges the responsibility. It is great to see.
'Scotty (Scott McTominay) has summed us up, how much he has come on and the importance he has.'
Qualifying early for the knockout stages of the Europa League was a massive bonus. Twelve of the 14 players who featured at Bramall Lane were able to stay behind in Manchester and train rather than fly to Astana for Thursday's match.
'We always targeted that from the start of the group,' admits Carrick. 'It gave us a chance to regroup ahead of three quick games. It is relentless for the players, mentally and physically, so it is a chance to refresh.
'The lads who went to Astana were out on Tuesday and back the early hours of Friday. It's a big chunk of the week and would have had a knock-on effect.'
The United coach revealed he's leant on Kieran McKenna for advice over recent months
Carrick says the transition from player to coach has been bigger than he anticipated
Carrick, now 38, retired as a player in 2018 and was put on the coaching staff by Mourinho. Solskjaer retained him after the Portuguese manager was sacked. Ironically, Mourinho brings his Spurs team to Old Trafford on Wednesday.
'The change from playing to coaching is probably bigger than you imagine.' says Carrick. 'Longer days, different responsibilities, different ways of thinking about the game.
'You get pushed out of your comfort zone doing something for the first time but that happens in any walk of life. I've leant on (fellow coach) Kieran McKenna to guide me in certain ways. We have a nice blend as a coaching team.
'The thing that drives you on is to play football in a certain way and win things. We all know we haven't been close enough in the league but that's the challenge. I'm relishing the opportunity to play a part in getting us to where we feel we belong. We do feel 100% we are going in the right direction.'
Rio Ferdinand was critical of United's first post-Sir Alex Ferguson manager, David Moyes, for worrying too much about the opposition.
United are up against Villa danger-man Jack Grealish on Sunday but Carrick says it will be a different mindset.
The former midfielder insists United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is unaffected by criticism
'It's about finding the right balance but our main focus is always about what we are going to do, whether it's against a team near the top or bottom,' he says firmly. 'We have a responsibility to try and win every game.'
Carrick clearly doesn't want to waste time on what he regards as periphery issues. On Paul Pogba's injury, he leaves it at: 'We know he is a top player but Fred has come in and done terrifically the past few weeks.'
What about Mourinho playing mind games next week by comparing his trophy haul to Solskjaer? 'It is hypothetical,' he says. 'Ole is all about belief in this club. Anything outside that, doesn't affect him.'
This week has got the former England http://cricnfootball.website2.me/blog/cristiano-ronaldo-as-a-kid midfielder's juices going. A hat-trick of important clashes in six days is a throwback to the glory days under Ferguson, albeit with United currently going for a top-four place rather than the title.
'It certainly shouldn't intimidate us - just embrace it and be positive,' he instructs the new generation. 'When you win those big games, it is the best feeling.'
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