Manchester United are flying under Michael Carrick.
Since taking the interim reins, Carrick has completely turned the ship around, guiding the Red Devils up to third in the Premier League and putting them firmly on the cusp of Champions League qualification.
As the summer transfer window looms, massive changes are on the horizon at Old Trafford.
Club legend Casemiro is officially packing his bags when his contract expires at the end of the season. With the 34-year-old Brazilian departing after netting eight goals this campaign, United are reportedly hunting for two new midfielders to fill that massive void.
But while the midfield rebuild is grabbing the headlines, the situation in central defense is sparking a totally different conversation.
Michael Carrick remains calm over defensive options
Carrick remains incredibly unfazed about the defense at Man United. When pressed about the center-back market, the head coach bluntly stated that the heart of the defense is “not an area of concern” for him right now.
“It’s not an area of concern for me at this moment in time,” Carrick said of United’s centre-backs, as reported by Sky Sports.
“At the moment and timing-wise talking about the summer and what goes beyond that, I think it’s difficult to elaborate on that really.
“Licha (Martinez) is actually missing games for a different reason at the minute, which we won’t go into, but I understand why you are asking it.
“But, no, I haven’t got concerns. I think we’ve got a mixed blend there of experience, of real quality and some young I’d say more than talented [players] really.
“Two promising young players (Heaven and Yoro) that have already shown what they can do. I thought Ayden was fantastic last week in such a difficult game.
“I haven’t got concerns as I sit here. Obviously, what the future looks like, I can’t really get involved [in] because I’m not sure myself.”
Man United have struggled defensively recently
Carrick’s calm demeanor is actually pretty wild when you look at the sheer chaos in United’s backline lately.
The squad has been absolutely ravaged by injuries and suspensions. Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined with a nagging back issue since late November, while he recently returned to light training on the grass, Carrick has confirmed there is absolutely zero pressure to rush him back before the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez remains suspended following a red card against Leeds, adding to a frustratingly disjointed year for the Argentine.
With Harry Maguire finally returning from a ban just in time to face Brentford on Monday night, and Leny Yoro also nearing a return to the pitch, the immediate defensive crisis seems to be easing.
At the end of the day, Carrick is trusting the process. He openly praised his squad’s blend of established experience and ultra-talented youth, specifically pointing out that promising teenagers like Heaven and Yoro have already proven they belong on the big stage.
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