After Manchester United beat Everton on Monday night, Michael Carrick’s post-match press conference was centred around the impact that the club’s summer signings are having on our recent success.
Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score the only goal of the game, finishing a counter-attacking move that featured crucial contributions from Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who also joined the club at the start of this season.
Meanwhile, at the other end, a cool performance from goalkeeper Senne Lammens – another player brought in for 2025/26 – was key to keeping Everton off the scoresheet and later saw him collect our Man of the Match award.
Questions from journalists gathered inside the media theatre at Hill Dickinson Stadium recognised their displays and Carrick spoke about the influence they have had on the six matches we have gone unbeaten in, since he took over as head coach.
You can read, and watch, those responses with the full media briefing below…
Meanwhile, at the other end, a cool performance from goalkeeper Senne Lammens – another player brought in for 2025/26 – was key to keeping Everton off the scoresheet and later saw him collect our Man of the Match award.
Questions from journalists gathered inside the media theatre at Hill Dickinson Stadium recognised their displays and Carrick spoke about the influence they have had on the six matches we have gone unbeaten in, since he took over as head coach.
You can read, and watch, those responses with the full media briefing below…
It’s the second game running that Benjamin has come off the bench and got a goal, can you just talk about his impact and what he’s been like in the squad? I would imagine he would quite like to start sometimes…
Similarly with Matheus Cunha, I just wonder what it’s been like getting to know him over the last few weeks because he didn’t start the first few games in charge, but his contribution for the goal plus his defensive shift – which his team-mates really seem to appreciate – must be pleasing as well?
“Yeah, I’m delighted. That was kind of where we were tonight, we had to put a lot into the game, everyone did. Credit to Everton, they made us dig deep. It wasn’t the prettiest or most perfect game football-wise for us but, like you say, the defensive work Matheus put in, the effort, the work-rate. In the end, his moment that we know we’ve got in the group to create something, made the difference for us. But it comes from him defending really well in a deep position to then create that transition. He’s a great character, Matheus, I’ve got to know him. We’ve not been together that long really, so sometimes when you get frustrated with things that you see, for the team I mean not an individual, you’ve got to take a deep breath and think we’re trying to put things in place. The players are still learning, they’re getting to know me, I’m getting to know them. Another big moment for Matheus, he’s had a number of them since the very start [of my time here] against [Manchester] City, when he came off the bench. He’s had a big impact again today for us and he’s in a good place as well.”
“Yeah, there’s a bit of that. It’s not always as extreme as well, sometimes I get why everyone is talking about it and making a bigger deal of it, but I’ve got a really good relationship with Ben. We’ve had some really good conversations. He’s in a really good place – part of it is us helping him take his steps and developing, growing him as a player. Sometimes that’s little steps, sometimes that’s bigger steps, he’s taken some huge steps recently, in terms of the goals he’s scored and the impact. That confidence and belief he’s playing with now is great to see. We’ve obviously got to manage that as well, we’ve got some good forwards so it’s one of those decisions we’ve got to try and get right. But I’ve got no problem with Ben and he hasn’t got an issue, he obviously wants to play but I can’t speak highly enough of how he’s been and the work he’s putting in and his attitude to come on and do what he’s done again. His finish had so much confidence and belief, and [it was a] ruthless finish, which sums up where he’s at, at the minute, which is great to see.”
Similarly with Matheus Cunha, I just wonder what it’s been like getting to know him over the last few weeks because he didn’t start the first few games in charge, but his contribution for the goal plus his defensive shift – which his team-mates really seem to appreciate – must be pleasing as well?
“Yeah, I’m delighted. That was kind of where we were tonight, we had to put a lot into the game, everyone did. Credit to Everton, they made us dig deep. It wasn’t the prettiest or most perfect game football-wise for us but, like you say, the defensive work Matheus put in, the effort, the work-rate. In the end, his moment that we know we’ve got in the group to create something, made the difference for us. But it comes from him defending really well in a deep position to then create that transition. He’s a great character, Matheus, I’ve got to know him. We’ve not been together that long really, so sometimes when you get frustrated with things that you see, for the team I mean not an individual, you’ve got to take a deep breath and think we’re trying to put things in place. The players are still learning, they’re getting to know me, I’m getting to know them. Another big moment for Matheus, he’s had a number of them since the very start [of my time here] against [Manchester] City, when he came off the bench. He’s had a big impact again today for us and he’s in a good place as well.”
I know you’ll be looking at it game-to-game, but, in the wider context, how much belief do you think the team can take on a weekend when teams around you dropped points? Maybe earlier in the season, teams weren’t taking those opportunities but that must really help while you chase a Champions League place…
Just on Ben and Matheus and Bryan is involved in the goal, and Senne in goal has obviously played well. In the recent past, we’ve seen players who have come to play for Man United maybe struggle a little bit, you’ve been in that situation as well coming to this club where the spotlight and the scrutiny is maybe a little bit different. How impressed have you been with those four guys since you arrived?
“Massively. I think that’s part of it sometimes, learning to cope with it. I’ve said it recently, I said it when I first came, sometimes maybe rightly so and not so on others of just expecting players to perform. Sometimes there’s a lot more that goes into it and feeling the environment, being comfortable in your surroundings to be able to perform is important. Sometimes it gets a bit of getting used to really, whether you’re starting or coming off the bench. That’s part of our job to try and manage that. I thought Senne was outstanding tonight. As a goalkeeper, you couldn’t hope for much more, safe hands, calm, composed, came and punched when he needed to and calm things down. It was an exemplary performance, so I was delighted for him.”
“It takes a lot of different things to win games. Sometimes, it will come a little bit easier and it will click, and then the goals will flow and you attack well and the game is a lot more in your favour. Other times, like tonight, credit to Everton, it was a bit of a tight game in some ways, it was a little bit sticky, wasn’t flowing as much for us. But I think the spirit and the belief and the trust the lads are gaining between themselves and between all of us, I think is important. We spoke about that before the game, sometimes you’ve got to rely on that. To have it, don’t take it for granted and they had it tonight, they needed everybody to put in that little bit extra and, in the end, that’s what we got out of the game.”
Just on Ben and Matheus and Bryan is involved in the goal, and Senne in goal has obviously played well. In the recent past, we’ve seen players who have come to play for Man United maybe struggle a little bit, you’ve been in that situation as well coming to this club where the spotlight and the scrutiny is maybe a little bit different. How impressed have you been with those four guys since you arrived?
“Massively. I think that’s part of it sometimes, learning to cope with it. I’ve said it recently, I said it when I first came, sometimes maybe rightly so and not so on others of just expecting players to perform. Sometimes there’s a lot more that goes into it and feeling the environment, being comfortable in your surroundings to be able to perform is important. Sometimes it gets a bit of getting used to really, whether you’re starting or coming off the bench. That’s part of our job to try and manage that. I thought Senne was outstanding tonight. As a goalkeeper, you couldn’t hope for much more, safe hands, calm, composed, came and punched when he needed to and calm things down. It was an exemplary performance, so I was delighted for him.”
Just following on from that on Senne, Edwin van der Sar has been on the TV tonight, obviously you played with him for a long time, I know he’s got a long way to go in his career but in terms of his calmness and that understated manner, everything just looks unfussy with him, do you see parallels in that specific bit of temperament and personality to Edwin?
Just on the signings and Senne in particular, is he maybe an example of how this club are maybe starting to get recruitment right? He’s a young goalkeeper, relatively inexperienced in Belgium and he’s obviously got what you’re talking about to play for United. There’s been countless games this season where teams are throwing crosses at him and he just deals with them really calmly. Is he an example of how things are turning here and the club are starting to get things right in terms of quality of players and character as well?
“In some ways, yeah. It’s difficult for me to talk about the past, when I’ve not been here, but, certainly, the boys who have come in recently are all playing a huge part for us, which is ideal. A major part is the character and the personality, that is a major attribute to have, especially playing here. Senne, the jump he’s had is a big jump, no disrespect but it’s a huge jump the one he made and to take it like he has done, and just get on with things, speaks volumes of his personality. He’s so able to deal with that environment and play at that level. That was a tough place that last 15 minutes, the amount of crosses and corners and things that he had to deal with, a couple of shots that he just catches and takes the sting out of it. To be able to do that in such a manner is obviously pleasing for us.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to be careful to what I say here, but I know what you mean. I definitely see similarities yeah, without comparing them. I don’t want to be comparing them because I don’t think it’s fair to Senne. But there’s definitely similarities. For me, he’s a goalkeeper to be reliable, to be trustworthy and, instead of creating the chaos, you want him to take the chaos away and calm things down. I think Senne is that. He’s quite quiet at times and unassuming but he’s got a real steeliness. To step in, it’s a big, big role, for some. Others, we were talking there about coping and just being comfortable in your environment. Sometimes it takes time, sometimes not, but how he’s gone about it at the moment, that calmness, that composure does help those in front of him an awful lot.”
Just on the signings and Senne in particular, is he maybe an example of how this club are maybe starting to get recruitment right? He’s a young goalkeeper, relatively inexperienced in Belgium and he’s obviously got what you’re talking about to play for United. There’s been countless games this season where teams are throwing crosses at him and he just deals with them really calmly. Is he an example of how things are turning here and the club are starting to get things right in terms of quality of players and character as well?
“In some ways, yeah. It’s difficult for me to talk about the past, when I’ve not been here, but, certainly, the boys who have come in recently are all playing a huge part for us, which is ideal. A major part is the character and the personality, that is a major attribute to have, especially playing here. Senne, the jump he’s had is a big jump, no disrespect but it’s a huge jump the one he made and to take it like he has done, and just get on with things, speaks volumes of his personality. He’s so able to deal with that environment and play at that level. That was a tough place that last 15 minutes, the amount of crosses and corners and things that he had to deal with, a couple of shots that he just catches and takes the sting out of it. To be able to do that in such a manner is obviously pleasing for us.”