Manchester United defender Harry Maguire praises new coach ahead of Manchester derby
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has declared that the squad has fully embraced Michael Carrick’s approach ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford, reports BritPanorama.
The 32-year-old centre-back, recently recovered from injury, expressed admiration for Carrick following several training sessions this week. “I’ve been really impressed,” Maguire told Sky Sports. “He’s got great ideas. He speaks really well. Tactically, he’s really, really good.”
Maguire added that Carrick has injected a new energy into the team. “I feel like he’s brought a lot of energy to this week, and I think the players have bought into it.” Carrick’s appointment comes during a turbulent spell for the club, who have not secured a victory in 2026. United recently drew 1-1 with Leeds United and were held to a 2-2 stalemate by Burnley, both performances reflecting ongoing struggles.
United’s difficulties deepened with an FA Cup elimination at home to Brighton, leading to the sacking of Ruben Amorim. Carrick, replacing Amorim as head coach until the season’s end, has previous experience with the club, having achieved notable results during a temporary stint in November 2021. Maguire noted Carrick’s development since then, emphasizing the valuable experience he gained while managing Middlesbrough.
“Obviously, I knew Carras from before, and I spoke really highly of him. He was a magnificent coach when he was here under Ole [Gunnar Solskjær],” Maguire explained, also highlighting Carrick’s capability to implement fresh ideas. He described Carrick as a club legend and expressed confidence in the support of the fanbase.
Maguire stated that Carrick’s main goal has been to revitalise the atmosphere at the training ground rather than overwhelm players with tactical instructions. “I think he just wants to bring the energy back in the building, and I think that’s so important,” he remarked. Carrick’s first match will be against Manchester City on Saturday at 12.30pm.
As the atmosphere stirs ahead of the derby, it encapsulates a unique tension; the dynamics of sport and allegiance never more pronounced, with both hope and apprehension woven into the fabric of the occasion.
