Carrick must unleash “fantastic” all-action star who is yet to start, he’s a massive upgrade on Amorim favourite – opinion

Manchester United put table-toppers Arsenal to the sword last weekend in a pulsating Premier League clash at the Emirates. Fresh from triumph in the Manchester Derby, Michael Carrick led the Red Devils to another crucial victory over the Gunners with a tactical set-up that pours further fuel on the fire of Ruben Amorim’s bizarre tactical experiment over the past 14 months. Michael the Adaptable The Portuguese coach obstinately implemented his 3-4-2-1 system after arriving to replace Erik ten Hag in November 2024, despite a wealth of evidence to suggest it was the wrong approach to get the best out of the United squad. INEOS’s decision to bring an end to Amorim’s tumultuous tenure sent shockwaves across England – but Carrick’s success with a switch to a more familiar 4-2-3-1, a formation which honours the fundamental ethos of the country’s biggest club, has transformed the mood at Old Trafford. Amidst the sea of positivity on Sunday evening in north London, it was difficult to pick out a single moment which has the potential to define the remainder of a previously turbulent campaign. Be it the resurgent Patrick Dorgu, reborn as an out-and-out left winger, the talismanic Bruno Fernandes, restored to his rightful throne as the team’s No.10, or redeploying Bryan Mbeumo as a lethal centre-forward, Carrick has made a series of decisions which have paid off handsomely. However, it was the introduction of a forgotten man in defence which has the potential to offer the former midfielder a foundational tool to help unleash his true tactical vision. Noussair Mazraoui was substituted on in the 88th minute with the game poised in United’s favour. Ironically, Carrick shifted the side into a back three at this precarious moment, with the 28-year-old defender replacing Amad to slot alongside Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in central defence to eke out the 3-2 win. This adaptability by the caretaker painted him in stark contrast to the dogmatic Amorim – but it also shone a light on what the versatile Mazraoui offers the side, with the right-back adopting the same outside centre-back role he had played many times under the former Sporting manager. However, this is not the position Carrick will have in mind for the Morocco international, who returned from the Africa Cup of Nations after suffering heartbreak in the final against Senegal. Instead, the 44-year-old coach can now implement his idealised system – a flexible 4-2-3-1 shape with a full-back capable of playing in three different areas of the pitch – because he has a player with the technical and tactical skillset to help him do so. Noussair the Versatile Signed from Bayern Munich for a deal worth an initial £12.8 million, Mazraoui has proven a masterstroke in the transfer market for United. Insiders at Old Trafford are understood to consider him the club’s “best signing” in years, particularly given the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka – an inferior full-back – to West Ham facilitated it. Despite representing Morocco, Mazraoui was born in Leiderdorp in the Netherlands, and came through Ajax’s esteemed academy, widely considered one of, if not the best, youth set-ups in European football. The defender’s quality with the ball at his feet, combined with his intelligence out of possession, are a testament to this outstanding footballing education – as is his versatility. Throughout his career, Mazraoui has played as a right-back, a left-back – the position he plays for Morocco, to facilitate Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi – a centre-back, a wing-back and even defensive midfield. It is a common trait for Ajax’s graduates, as shown by Arsenal’s defensive powerhouse, Jurrien Timber, who can play anywhere along the backline, while offering a potent threat going forward. And it’s this comfortability across the pitch which Carrick will tap into, with the former Middlesbrough manager utilising a fluid system during his time at the Riverside Stadium. Michael Carrick Managerial Career Stats TeamFromToGames PlayedGames WonGames Drawn Games LostWin % Manchester United (caretaker)21 November 20212 December 2021321066.67 Middlesbrough24 October 20224 June 202513663244946.32 Manchester United (caretaker)13 January 2026Present2200100.00 Career total——14167254947.52 The way in which ‘Boro would set up in possession would be distinct from the structure they fell back into once possession was surrendered. A 4-2-3-1 base formation would shift into a 3-2-5, or even a 2-3-5, shape on the ball, designed to overload the opposition defence in specific areas of the pitch. One of the full-backs would be instructed to push high and wide, while the other tucks in to form a back three. Diogo Dalot, who has played in Carrick’s first two games due to Mazraoui’s absence at AFCON, is comfortable in the former role, but lacks the defensive awareness to play the latter. Mazraoui, by contrast, has the technical quality to play forward, linking effectively with the attackers in dangerous areas, while simultaneously retaining the discipline to play as an outside centre-back, as he often did under Amorim. Another variation he offers is the option to play as an inverted full-back who joins the midfield, which enables the No. 8 – in this case, Kobbie Mainoo – to drive up the pitch, as the No. 6 – Casemiro – is protected by the right-back becoming a quasi-defensive midfielder. This is a tactic utilised to great effect by Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta in recent seasons. And, again, it is a role Dalot would be incapable of fulfilling; but his Moroccan teammate would. Final Thoughts In conclusion, the best way to express Mazraoui’s utility as a footballer is to describe him as a key which unlocks many doors, while Dalot serves more of a singular purpose; a crowbar in comparison to a lockpick. Carrick’s time with Middlesbrough was defined by the fact that his system was often impossible to define. It was an approach which oscillated between formations, designed to punish opposition weaknesses and accentuate his own team’s strengths. Under Amorim, United would often do the opposite; adapt their own game-plan to the strengths of the opposition, while masking their own perceived foibles. And in Carrick’s opening two matches – against two objectively superior sides in City and Arsenal – the Englishman did something similar, which is a testament to his adaptability as a coach. However, his long-term vision for the Red Devils will be a more proactive one, where a change in set-up is designed to punish the opponent, rather than prevent punishment. And for this positive tactical formulation, he needs a full-back capable of being a chameleon – an approach Mazraoui has spent his entire career perfecting. Feature image Michael Regan 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.