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Mourinho invites Carrick to join United coaching staff

Jose Mourinho has offered Manchester United captain Michael Carrick a role on his coaching staff.

The 36-year-old midfielder released a statement on Friday night to reveal that he has undergone a heart procedure called a cardiac ablation, and that he will soon be available for selection again.

Carrick was in the director's box for Saturday's 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and, afterwards, Mourinho suggested the no.16 will continue as a player this season before making a decision on his future.

“Michael, as a person, is more important than Michael as a player,”
said the boss. “We gave him the time to relax, to recover, to feel confident, to make the decision when he wants to play, when he wants to stop. 

”He knows my coaching staff has the chair for him if he wants. When he wants the chair, it is there in the office for him. I want that, the board wants that and the owner wants that. Michael is in a comfortable situation. His future will be with us. 

“But he wants to be a player until the end of the season and now he feels confident to be back and now he is training back with us. So he is one more option for us, we need players and Michael wants to play so I am happy with that.”
READ THE STATEMENT IN FULL

Carrick issued the following statement via Twitter on Friday 24 November...

“I just want to clear up my situation as I've had quite a few people asking if I'm ok and why I haven't been fit over the last couple of months.

After feeling strange during the second half of the Burton game in September, I underwent a series of tests. It turned out to be due to an irregular heart rhythm which has been fully investigated and I had a procedure called a Cardiac Ablation.

“I had to build up training steadily whilst being monitored closely but I feel fine now. I would like to reassure everyone that I'm healthy and back training hard with the team. I'm building up my fitness and aiming to be back in contention for selection soon. Thanks for your support.”
MATA'S TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL

In his weekly blog, published on Monday, Juan wrote:
“I want to dedicate a few lines to Michael Carrick, a great team-mate who has gone through a few complicated weeks, and now he's ready to help the team again from the pitch. 

We are very happy about that fact, he's a great professional and his behaviour is an example to all of us. I'm sure that his elegant football will help us a lot during the rest of the season.“