How Carrick's Man Utd are shaping up for Premier League season

Michael Carrick expressed his desire for Manchester United to win and entertain during the upcoming Premier League season. He emphasized the importance of adhering to United's traditions and the club's duty to its fans. Carrick's approach to pre-season has been centered around tactical principles, rather than rigid formations. He has experimented with a 4-2-4 shape from goal kicks, with the front four playing fluidly and the defenders and central midfielders in more consistent positions.

United's build-up play has focused on short passing, but Carrick aims to revert to taking risks and playing long when necessary, to avoid the challenges posed by man-to-man pressure in the Premier League. The coach also instills the concept of players supporting each other through clusters of threes, with players understanding their roles in creating opportunities.

The signings of midfielders such as Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Mason Mount have been instrumental in United's transition up the pitch. However, the tactical approach requires players to have the ability to interpret the game and make quick decisions, which can result in turnovers and a lack of control if not executed effectively.

Carrick aims to maximize the potential of fast attackers by playing more vertically, minimizing passes, and avoiding losing the ball carelessly. Defensively, Carrick encourages high pressing, leaving four attackers high and narrow to block the center of the pitch and create counter-attack opportunities.