“So, so important”: Michael Carrick breaks silence on underused United duo’s key roles

Michael Carrick has managed to get Manchester United firing on all cylinders since taking charge as caretaker manager in mid-January. The Red Devils had a tough time under previous head coach Ruben Amorim, whose 3-4-3 system divided opinion among fans and pundits alike. The Portuguese was relieved of his duties at the beginning of January, and the Englishman was drafted in as a temporary option to steady the ship. Carrick, however, has been a revelation so far, and has managed six wins and a draw in his seven games in charge. The Englishman has managed his squad very efficiently, although the lack of games has affected the involvement of the entire squad. Carrick has made minimal changes to his starting XI since taking charge, with only injuries and form affecting his decisions. This has meant that players like Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled for game time so far. The curious case of Zirkzee Zirkzee has struggled to live up to expectations since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Bologna in the summer of 2024. Meanwhile, United’s decision to invest in Benjamin Sesko last summer has further impacted his situation. The Dutchman has also struggled with injuries this season and has managed two goals and one assist in 19 appearances in all competitions, only four of which have been starts. He is yet to start a game under Carrick, managing just 15 minutes of action since the Englishman’s arrival. Joshua Zirkzee Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League174211-497′ FA Cup10—-28′ EFL Cup10–1-8′ Total194212-533′ Source: Transfermarkt. Mazraoui, meanwhile, has also suffered a similar fate, registering 14 appearances this season, including six starts. Noussair Mazraoui Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League146–2-530′ Total146–2-530′ Source: Transfermarkt. On Sunday, the Moroccan was called into action early against Crystal Palace following Luke Shaw’s injury and covered admirably in the left-back position to help secure a 2-1 win. Meanwhile, Zirkzee also had a promising cameo after coming on late in the game, and Carrick has now opened up on the duo’s importance to United. Whole squad is important Speaking to MUTV’s Mark Sullivan ahead of the game against Newcastle United on Wednesday, the English manager was full of praise for Mazraoui and Zirkzee. He said: “Yeah, again I say it a lot but I think the whole squad is so, so important.” “I understand that some players have played a little bit more than others, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the case for the rest of the season. I thought Nous in particular coming in, he played ever so well. So I’m pleased for us and for him. Josh again coming off the bench, as he did at West Ham, and having an impact…” “I think it’s part of it. You need everyone. We’ve got so much talent within the squad to call upon when we need it. I’m really delighted with the whole squad, I have to say, yeah. The way they’ve stuck together, with the spirit and all making an impact in different ways is what we want.” Final Thoughts Zirkzee was heavily linked with an exit from the Theatre of Dreams in January but ended up staying. However, the Dutchman’s future is already subject to speculation ahead of the summer transfer window. Mazraoui, meanwhile, is a utility player who can carry out various roles in the backline. With United likely to fight on several fronts next season, and midfield reinforcements a priority this summer, INEOS could be tempted to hold on to both players for now. Feature image Molly Darlington via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.