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

Michael Carrick emphasized the importance of playing exciting football for Manchester United, echoing the sentiment of Sir Alex Ferguson, who believed in entertaining the fans. Carrick's approach to pre-season has been heavily influenced by United's traditional DNA, with a focus on risk-taking in build-up play and a less structured passing routine compared to previous managers.

The squad has adopted a 4-2-4 formation from goal kicks, with a fluid front four and consistent defensive positions. Short passing has been replaced with more fluid passing between the front four and defenders. Carrick emphasizes the importance of players understanding their roles in creating third-man runs and exploiting spaces created by teammates.

The signings of midfielders Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Mason Mount have been instrumental in implementing these concepts. However, Carrick has noticed that the players sometimes rush to attack, resulting in turnovers and lack of control. He wants to improve the team's ability to transition vertically, maintaining possession before moving forward.

In terms of defense, Carrick prefers a high press, forcing opponents to play in wide areas and creating chances for United's attackers. Milan's successful 5-2-3 formation against United highlights the challenges faced by teams utilizing this defensive setup.