Ahead of the Manchester Derby, Michael Carrick, manager of Manchester United, gave an exclusive interview to Sky Sports discussing the team's performance following their return to the Champions League, the evolution of the Manchester Derby over the years, and the club's midfield reinforcements during this summer transfer window. This article is the first part of the exclusive interview.

Michael, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us again. Before we talk about Sunday's match, let's discuss last night first. The team returned to Champions League football and secured a strong victory. I think that's proof of your work, the players' work, and the coaching staff's work last season, which brought Champions League football back to Old Trafford.

It felt tremendous. The match went very well—essentially everything we hoped to see before the game came to fruition. The performance brought many positives, and the fans went home happy and pleased with the evening.

It feels good to be back competing in this competition and to have made a strong start in the Champions League. It was an important night for us, and the players fully grasped the opportunity.

How did it feel to hear the Champions League anthem again? After all, it's been several years, and Old Trafford fans haven't heard that music for a long time.

Yes, it really has been a long time. Over the past few years, our performance in this competition hasn't met our expectations. So in one sense, this reflects the progress we're committed to making and the direction we want to move forward, step by step. I think the work we did last season and the strong finish we achieved gave us this opportunity. Now that we're here, we want to make the most of it.

You just mentioned reaching this point—it all started with the Manchester Derby, didn't it? That was your first match in charge. I know you've spoken about this before—how that first week managing the team was filled with uncertainty and no one knew how the team would perform in that first game at Old Trafford. But when you actually walked into that derby, sat in the dugout, watched the team perform like that, and got that result, how did you feel?

I have to say, that day was extremely special. However, that's in the past now. We've moved on from it and won't dwell on it. Of course, it was a wonderful memory and one of those great days.

But we've quickly moved forward. I think the players gained confidence and belief from that match and will remember how it felt that day and what it took to win that way.

That said, we won't look back too much. This is a new game, a new opportunity, and the circumstances are completely different. Now we need to seize this opportunity.

Of course. Speaking of the Manchester Derby, you've experienced it as a player, then joined as a coach, and now you're the manager of Manchester United. How have you seen this derby evolve into the rivalry it is today?

To be honest, when I first arrived at this club, the derby wasn't what it is now. I think that's quite clear. Over the past 20 years, the match has gradually developed and changed. It's now a somewhat different game from what it was.

It's always been an important match, of course. The derby has always been intense, but now it carries a different meaning. We're really looking forward to this game. It's a challenge, and the opposition is clearly a very good team. From their perspective, they've strengthened their squad and worked hard to complement those reinforcements.

However, so have we. We believe we're a very good team and capable of competing at the highest level. When we're at our best, we're a very good team. So we're looking forward to this game.

Was there a specific moment or match when you felt the derby changed, or has it been a gradual process of change? Have you ever gone into a derby and suddenly felt a noticeably different atmosphere or heightened intensity?

I'd have to think back on that. I'm not entirely sure. I think there was one match we ultimately lost... in a way, that loss cost us the league title as well. It was when City scored late in the season with a late goal.

At that point, we had been leading, then lost it, and when the season ended, we'd lost the title again. I think that was a significant moment. Some changes may have occurred before that because during that period they started to win league titles.

But I can't pinpoint one particularly clear moment. Perhaps it's because we lost that match—it felt especially painful. You tend to remember matches like that most vividly.

Coming back to this derby, this is the first time in 10 years you'll face a different Manchester Derby opponent manager other than Pep Guardiola. How do you think he's impacted this fixture and the history of the Manchester Derby?

Pep Guardiola has done excellent work. Obviously, that's very clear, and it's probably been said enough already. I have great respect for what he's accomplished, and I also have great respect for the success he's achieved—unfortunately for us, of course, because that success came against us.

The situation has changed somewhat now. There have also been changes in the league at the managerial level. So we'll have to wait and see what this brings.

Speaking about summer reinforcements, as you just mentioned, Manchester United has strengthened the midfield, and so has Manchester City. Looking at most of the new midfielders from both sides, I think one very obvious characteristic of these midfielders might be physical ability. Do you think this reflects the current direction of development in the Premier League?

Perhaps. However, I think technical ability is equally important. At least for our team, especially our midfield, I believe we have strong technical quality. Based on our performances, the way we're playing now, the team's development, how the players understand each other, and the relationships gradually forming between them, I think we've demonstrated this. So I believe we're heading in a very good direction right now. We still feel there's a lot of room for improvement.

For some of the new midfielders, this will be their first Manchester Derby. Will you specifically talk to them about this? I know they've likely experienced other derbies throughout their careers, but what will you convey to players experiencing the Manchester Derby for the first time?

Of course, we'll discuss these things and help the players understand how significant certain matches are, especially how much they mean to the fans, to the club, and to the history of this institution. I think that's part of connecting with this club when you arrive here. You need to understand and care about these things.

The players are well aware of how much this match means for several reasons. Obviously, for us, what matters most is winning this game.

Related article:

Michael Carrick: Rashford Is Key in Big Games, and I Hope He'll Remain That Way

แปลโดย AI

เว็บไซต์ AF เปิดตัวแล้ว! ดูข่าว ความคิดเห็น รายละเอียดแมตช์ และสถิติครบถ้วนบนคอมพิวเตอร์ของคุณ เยี่ยมชม: www.allfootballapp.com