“Main thing that’s improved…”: United veteran pinpoints where Amorim got it horribly wrong while lauding Carrick

Manchester United have won four games on the bounce under Michael Carrick, something the team never managed under former head coach Ruben Amorim. Michael Carrick has restored the club’s DNA, with the Red Devils winning games late on while breaking down stubborn defences with ease. The manner of the four victories and the opposition they have come against have impressed one and all, including United players. Harry Maguire was asked about what Carrick got right instantly as opposed to the Portuguese, and the former skipper pointed to the work rate put in by the players as a unit while defending. Harry Maguire pinpoints what Amorim got wrong He cited the team’s defending in the box, claiming the 20-time English league champions are far more aggressive now as compared to under Amorim. “I think we’ve got to be comfortable to be dominant with the ball but also without the ball and also be a threat,’ Maguire told TNT Sports. “We also know we’re going to be a threat on the counter-attack with our players. “Taking the lead against Manchester City and then we were happy to soak up a little bit of pressure and be comfortable defending our box. “I think that’s the main thing that’s improved over the last three games. We’ve defended our box a lot better with a lot more urgency. Previously we defended our box nowhere near good enough, every time the ball went in the box they had a chance. Fluidity under Carrick has been a major change “But the last three games, loads more urgency. Not just from the defenders, from the midfielders, the wide men getting back in, the strikers protecting the edge of the box, I think it’s so important we do it as a team.” The most important change has been United’s tactical flexibility, as opposed to playing in Amorim’s rigid 3-4-3 system. Under the former United midfielder, the Old Trafford side have played a fluid front four, while playing in a different way in each game. United defended narrow against Manchester City and Arsenal, while looking to play on the counter. It was a different approach against both Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, where they enjoyed more of the ball. Harry Maguire lauded Carrick’s tactical flexibility “We’ve got to make sure we get the spaces right all over the pitch. We’ve got to make sure we’re compact, in a mid block, a low block or we go after teams. “I’m sure under Sir Alex [Ferguson] you went after some teams and you were happy in the mid block and happy defending low. I think Michael will bring that.I think there’ll be times going man-for-man all over the pitch and be really aggressive. “There’ll also be times we’ll be happy and content keeping the spaces short and punishing teams on the counter-attack. I think it’s important to be tactically flexible.” United will now look to make it five wins out of five when they travel to London to face West Ham United later on Tuesday. Feature image Carl Recine 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