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Michael Carrick addressed the press following Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford. Casemiro scored the opening goal in the 11th minute, marking his ninth goal of the season.
Every word from Michael Carrickās press conference after Brentford win
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick spoke to the press after his sideās 2-1 win over Brentford on Monday evening.
Casemiro opened the scoring for United in the 11th minute when he headed home a delivery from Harry Maguire. The strike marked his ninth of the season.
Benjamin Sesko made it 2-0 just before the break, finishing off a sensational counter-attack. The Slovenian was assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Mathias Jensen pulled one back for the visitors in the 87th minute, but it proved to be only a consolation prize as United held on for all three points.
After the match, Carrick spoke to journalists and addressed a number of topics, including the teamās performance, Kobbie Mainoo and Fernandesā displays, as well as a potential U-turn on Casemiroās future.
Carrick said, āYeah, we had to see a few sides tonight actually. Credit to Keith [Andrews] and his staff. Theyāre a good team and theyāre tough to play against. They ask certain questions.ā
Michael Carrick discussed the team's performance and key moments from the 2-1 victory over Brentford in his press conference.
Casemiro scored the first goal for Manchester United in the 11th minute of the match against Brentford.
Casemiro has scored a total of nine goals this season for Manchester United.
The final score of the match was Manchester United 2, Brentford 1.
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āI thought we started fantastic in the game. Looked really dangerous. Probably could add an extra goal or two. And then they came into it a little bit. So half-time was a good position for us to be in. We tweaked a couple of things at half-time and probably had a bit more control.ā
āThe game wasnāt as open, which at that stage was what we kind of wanted really and seeing the game out in tough circumstances. So they are three big points and you know, itās that time of the season where results are crucial, and the boys to win again, is a good habit to get used to. Itās an important one for us.ā
Asked about Casemiroās performance, Carrick answered, āI think its pretty clear how much it means to him. Probably the situation and the clarity of it has helped everything to be so open and understand, for the supporters as well, for him, for everybody and it means a lot to him.ā
āAnd credit to him because the situation that heās in, heās given absolutely everything as well and had some big moments for us. So all round itās quite a nice direction for it to be taken in.ā
On the formation change and when he decided to make it, Carrick replied, āFive minutes before half-time maybe. Five or six minutes before the second goal. We just felt we were a little bit too open at certain times and we still could be dangerous, but we wanted to stop certain spaces and have a little bit more control within the game and still carry the threat.ā
āIt was purely tactical. Second half we came out and actually had control and still went forward, looked dangerous. And it was what the game needed at that point really. So obviously the second goalā¦we were cetain anyway and it put us in a great position to then have more control of the game.ā
āIn the end, itās gone to plan up to a point and weāve won the game, so weāre happy with that.ā
Pressed further on Amadās substitution, Carrick said, [It was] purely tactical, yeah.ā
Asked for the most impressive aspect of Mainooās display, Carrick told reporters, āI just thought on the back of the Chelsea game really, he was particularly good in the Chelsea game. Similar things, I think. Showing a little bit of everything ā what he can do.ā
āI think his build-up play, taking the ball, his creation, starting the attacks. Heās so effective with that, but definitely his duels, recovery runs, back tackling I think over the last two games, heās taken that up a level. Itās great to see that he can do it. We know he can do it and you try to give him more responsibility as the games go on and still not expecting too much of him as well and understand trying to help him a little bit, but herās doing great at the moment.ā
On United inching closer to securing Champions League football, Carrick explained, āWeāve given ourselves a great chance. Weāve put ourselves in a big position. I think these last two results have been big to that. Itās a tough league. Itās tough to get wins and I think you can see that throughout the league, so to get the amount of wins weāve had, and especially after setbacksā¦the Newcastle defeat and then to bounce back with Villa. The Leeds one and then to bounce back again.ā
āI think the lads have got to take a bit of credit for that because this weekās been very effective in terms of the league. On the other side, the Champions League is one thing, but itās not something we should be over-celebrating either. We want to be finishing higher up the league and we want to be challenging higher up the league and try and get more points.ā
āOur season doesnāt get to a close when that happens. Itās certainly one thing that we need to try and achieve. Weāve put ourselves in aĀ good position at this moment, but thereās still more work to be done.ā
Fernandes registered his 19th assist of the season against Brentford, meaning he is just one away from equalling Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henryās Premier League record.
Asked about the skipper, Carrick explained, āYeah, hopefully he does [celebrate some personal accolades at the end of the season]. He deserves it for the impact that heās had and the moments that heās created ā whether thatās scoring, whether thatās having an influence over the group ā you know heās had a big season and thereās no getting away from it.ā
āAnd it was another good performance from him tonight.ā
On whether Casemiroās situation is closed and there is no chance of United reversing their decision to release him, Carrick confirmed, āYeah, itās pretty clear. From both sides itās pretty clear.ā
Carrick insisted that tactical flexibility and switching formations can be a strength of his.
āYeah, I think weāve got to be able to adapt, you know and play certain things. And Iām not really a big numbers and formation kind of guy. I think itās certain games, certain things. I think you can put a formation on paper but actually, the way you play, thereās only certain moments that youāre in them numbers really, in possession, out of pession, when youāre pressing, whether youāre a little bit deeper.ā
āSo the numbers side of it, itās not so much. Itās what weāre trying to achieve with it, you know and try to be flexible and I thought Nous [Mazraoui] came in again and did fantastically well and playing two positons, to show us on the back of last week, he was very unlucky not to be playing tonight.ā
āBut he stepped in great and flexibility is important. Adapting is important and actually managing the game and what we need, and I thought we did that tonight.ā
Asked about Casemiro again, Carrick pointed out, āHeās had an influence on the group. Heās got huge experience, heās a good player, heās achieved an awful lot in the game and since Iāve been here heās given everything that he could possibly give.ā
āThe situation has probably helped that, knowing exactly where heās at, thereās nothing to hide, and heās thrown himself right into it.ā
The United boss added, āItās football, players come and go. Youāve got to evolve and move on and adapt. Itās kind of the world weāre in. Heās definitely giving everything and itās nice heās got that connection with the supporters and it goes both ways, cause I know heās an emotional guy and it means a lot to him.ā
Carrick hailed Seskoās ability to sniff out chances, even when it doesnāt look like theyāre coming to him in abundance.
āItās great if he can score on the first one [chance]. I think the way the game is at now, if you are an out-and-out number nine, the game kind of went away from it a little bit in many ways. I think if you are an out-and-out striker that lives on the last line and plays for those, I think sometimes youāre not necessarily always involved in the game, but thatās not the role.ā
āHeās certainly got a part to play and link play and out of possession and a role with that. But if you look at the out-and-out number nines, theyāre to pick the moments and be there at the right time and it was a big moment for us. I think he took it fantastically well.ā
āHe was so calm and composed with it and it just shows the steps that heās made, I think to be in that situation and have that confidence to put the ball away like he did.ā
United are next in action on Sunday when they host bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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