Michael Carrick has praised the way his Manchester United players have responded to a first defeat of his reign as head coach.
The Reds had won six out of seven matches since Carrick’s appointment in early January, before losing 2-1 at Newcastle United last time out.
That result in the north-east ended our 11-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, but the team remains third in the table and determined to finish the season strongly.
United’s attention has now turned to Sunday’s Old Trafford blockbuster against fourth-placed Aston Villa and Michael states everybody is excited for the occasion.
“It's an important game,”
Carrick told club reporter Mikey Partington. “It’s one we're looking forward to, you know. We've manoeuvred ourselves into such a good position now and it's been a positive couple of months that we want to build on.
“We’re coming off the back of losing a game, but it happens, we've seen pretty much everyone over recent weeks has lost. So that's what this league brings and we’re putting things in perspective and understanding what we can do a little bit better.
“But the boys have been really good in training again and just looking forward to the next game.”
Expanding on how the squad is responding to the loss at Newcastle, Michael continued. “Yeah, good. I think there's an understanding of what we can do a little bit better in certain areas and we can improve, which is really good, but it's coming off the back of good performances and a really good group of results as well.
“It's just putting things in the balance really and understanding where we're at and taking the confidence that we've built up and the spirit and putting that into the next group of games, which is two before the international break and this Aston Villa one's a really important one.”
The boss was speaking to us on Monday night while appearing at a Street Reds session in Old Trafford, in association with the Manchester United and Michael Carrick Foundations.
Michael was heavily involved with our Foundation throughout his illustrious career as a player, and his own charity has gone from strength to strength since it was set up in 2017.
As Carrick told us, his work as head coach isn’t limited to training and matches. He is always ready to help the Foundation, support our Academy and immerse himself in the club. “Yeah, 100 per cent,”
he said.
“I think we see the football club, we see the football, we see what goes on the pitch, but I think this football club is an awful lot more than that.
“I've seen it all, I've kind of lived through it, so I know how important it is and the work that we need to do away from the pitch. Whether that's the foundation, whether that's how we treat people, how we look after our own, the global fan base and everything.
“I think the Academy is such an important part of this club too and has been for so long, so there's a real responsibility to carry that through.
“So, I certainly feel that responsibility, but it's a real privilege, to be honest, and playing a part like that is exactly what we should be doing.”
Look out for more content from Monday’s Street Reds session later in the week.