"First and foremost, we want to win," said Michael Carrick when asked what style of football he wanted his Manchester United team to play this season. But he quickly clarified, "we want to be excited - that's why we love this club. I'm fully aware that we need to do it in a certain way".
Carrick echoed the sentiment of the architect of United's most successful era, Sir Alex Ferguson, who in 2017 said: "I think you have a duty to entertain. We have to always remember there's a public to be entertained." 'United DNA' has often been referenced when fans, ex-players and pundits have discussed the club in recent years. And after failed attempts from managers to mould the team into a slower, more measured, possession-heavy side, Carrick is aiming to create a style and system that mirrors United's traditions.
Before the Red Devils kick off their Premier League season at Hull City this Saturday ( ) what have we learned from how Carrick has approached pre-season tactically? Breakouts & wildcards - 13 surprise stars for new season Man Utd will reject any bid for Fernandes Beginning with the shape of United's squad provides much-needed context, but it is important to note that much of their play is based on tactical principles, not just formations. In build-up play, United have looked to play short.
Former manager Ruben Amorim's solution to the increase in man-to-man pressure across the Premier League was to encourage goalkeeper Senne Lammens to play long. This was to avoid the risk associated with short passing - something he tried to mixed results early in his tenure. Carrick has instead looked to revert United's mindset here, asking them to take that risk again.
The shape his team have used from goal-kicks has been a 4-2-4 with Lammens between the two central defenders. The front four play in a very fluid manner with the four defenders and two central midfielders taking up more consistent positions behind them. Overall, building out from the back has been a promising part of United's game in pre-season and where we have most clearly seen some of the principles Carrick has tried to instil in his squad.
Going back to Amorim's United once more, when they did play out from the back, they would execute pre-planned passing routines. Carrick's United instead look to escape pressure through trios of players passing the ball between each other in a less choreographed manner. Pre-season coaching has reinforced the players' understanding around supporting team-mates to create clusters of threes.
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