“Had to make sure…”: United superstar reveals Carrick’s gameplan vs Villa, it worked perfectly in the second half

Manchester United took command of the race for Champions League football with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. The victory means that, with only eight games left to play this season, the Red Devils now have a three-point lead over Unai Emery’s side in third place. It was the home side who took the lead early in the second half through Casemiro, but Villa equalised soon after. It was a dubious call from the referee, and many inside the stadium might have thought the goal would deflate the spirits of the United players. Bruno Fernandes ran the show vs Villa But not under Michael Carrick, as the team fought on and scored twice through Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko to seal the deal, with Bruno Fernandes grabbing two assists. The Brazilian’s goal highlighted United’s gameplan, as revealed by Bruno Fernandes after the game. Speaking to Sky Sports, the club captain expressed delight at the three points, while explaining how crucial the victory was in the race for the Champions League. “It was very important against a direct opponent. We had the same points, so getting this advantage from them is always good. We needed to win the game after the last game. Today we did the job, I still think we can do much better.” “In the Premier League every game is difficult. Villa are very well organised and know what they have to do. The plan against us is always very good. They have individual players that can make such a difference. Carrick’s gameplan worked wonders “It was about following our plan, we did it very well. We knew they had a high line and had to make sure our runs were on point. It looks easy but it is more difficult. If the timing is not perfect it’s very difficult. We did it today and we won the game.” The game was significant for the Portuguese superstar as he notched his 100th assist in United colours, while also breaking David Beckham’s record of most assists in a single season. “I am more pleased because I did it serving my team-mates. That is even better, giving joy to the others is very good. “I am very happy I can help them to score and be happy. It’s a huge achievement for me. Main achievement will be in the top spots at the end of the season.” And to think INEOS were considering parting ways last summer. The sooner they can tie down Bruno Fernandes on a new deal, the better for the club. Feature image Lewis Storey 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 Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25