Carrick: There's more to come from Kobbie

Mainoo, who has now started all four matches so far in Carrick's spell as head coach, took on a key role for our opening goal against Spurs, producing a clever flick back to the penalty spot for Bryan Mbeumo to score, as part of a well-executed set-piece routine.

That came after the visitors had gone down to 10 men, when Cristian Romero was dismissed for a late challenge on Casemiro, and United made sure of the win late in the second half when Bruno Fernandes converted from Diogo Dalot's cross.

The victory continues Carrick's winning start since returning to the club last month and, as well as Mainoo's form, the boss spoke about a host of other topics in his post-match debrief with the media, including Fernandes's status within the Premier League, his touchline demeanour. and breaking down a 10-man opposition.

Watch Carrick's press conference, or read his quotes in full, by scrolling below...

Earlier this season, Everton had a man sent off and Manchester United couldn’t break them down. What was it that pleased you about the way that the team kept going and kept creating chances to break Tottenham down, get the second goal and extend this winning run?

Yeah, It’s a tricky one, we’ve seen all sorts of different things happen from playing against 10 men over the years. The first goal is normally vital to get ahead, but I think it was just encouraging the expression, the attacking play, and not so much the enjoyment where you can do what you want and it’s a playground with kind of tricks and flicks, but more playing with a purpose, but really the confidence. The first goal ends up coming from a realy well-worked corner. There’s different ways to get that goal, but the boys pulled it off really well. Credit to Jonny Evans and Kaita [Hasegawa, first-team analyst] who kind of put that together and worked with the boys over the few days of having that day. So there’s different ways you can break teams down but fortunately for us today, we managed to pull it off.

In terms of Bruno Fernandes, a goal for him but really summing up a few weeks for him, is it fair to say he could be one of, if not the, most in-form player in the league right now?

Yeah, quite possibly. I think Bruno, his level of performances over quite a long period of time now have been so consistent. He’s always in and around big moments, he’s got his fingerprints on it most of the time. He just cares so much, you can see that, he cares so much about the club and wanting the club to do well, the team to do well. He can play so much different positions, he ended up playing off the left and got his goal in the end from playing off the left. He’s just got the quality in the big moments, that composure and can make the difference for us. It’s nothing new, hopefully it continues, I’m sure he’ll have big moments between now and the end of the season.

It’s the first time the team have won four Premier League games in a row since February 2024. Just in this run, what’s pleased you the most in such a short space of time?

I think the connection with everyone probably, has been as [much] as anything. We all know what goes on the pitch is ultimately really important as well as performances. But I think the feeling, the kind of emotion, the connection with players, the staff with coaches, with supporters, it feels good. We’ve had to win games in different ways in recent weeks and show that spirit, so to see the stadium in that way, with everyone leaving in such a good place, that gives me a lot of satisfaction as much as the type of tactical and technical side. We come here to look forward to some excitement and to go home happy is a good place.

You mentioned winning in different ways, this side - you touched on the run - has it been easier than you thought, or the players, have they just been better? United have got more points now than they had all last season and that really has been since you’ve come in, I don’t know what you’ve changed, is it as simple as one thing you’ve changed?

I don’t know, It’s difficult to say because I wasn’t here before, so in terms of changing it, I think we just came in with our beliefs, how we see things, principles, and asking players to do certain things and behave in a certain way. It’s difficult to comment in terms of what’s changed. I’m pleased with the buy-in, the connection and everyone’s invested in it, I think that goes a long way. I think tactics in certain times, the game can flow in different ways and you can look very different, good or bad. But being in a real-good emotional place helps you and again that proved to be the case. It was different today, we had to manage the game, control the game and show patience and good quality but there’s different ways to do it. The four games that we’ve had have all slightly looked different, but we’re not getting carried away, I;m not sitting here thinking everything looks great, we’ve cracked it, there’s a lot of work to do so I’m fully aware of that.

When the team did last win four games on the spin, Kobbie was integral to that, with the goal at Wolves. Do you feel he’s now getting back to the level of those performances?

There’s no doubt of Kobbie’s ability and what he can bring, he’s still so young and let’s be careful of not putting so much right on his shoulders and expecting so much of him. He’s still learning the game. Because he’s had the big high and then obviously didn’t play for a bit, it’s easy to think he’s a lot older and more experienced probably than he is. But credit to him, he’s come right in and find his rhythm with football, which is not easy after a period of time out and he’s found that physically and mentally. We know he can handle the ball and hopefully over time, I’m sure he’ll keep improving. We’ve got to be patient and not expect too much from him all the time.

You’re very still on the touchline, you don’t gesticulate wildly like certain managers choose to. Are you having to control yourself because the adrenaline is presumably pumping at the moment?

Depends if you score or not, doesn’t it, I suppose?! It’s just managing the moment. I’m not particularly thinking I need to look a certain way, I’m not into that, it’s not a performance from me, I’m just being myself. It helps make clear decisions and trying to understand in the game what’s going on. There’s certainly an emotional side. I’ve made myself look a little bit silly with some of the celebrations from certain goals that we’ve had, but that’s part of football and you’ve got to enjoy the moments at certain times. There’s definitely an element of trying to be calm and thoughtful and calculated at the right time as well.

You’ve played in central midfield as well for Man United, just on Kobbie, being dropped back into a midfield of a Premier League game when he’s missed so much football, how impressive is that and is there more to come? Because the inevitable question will be that if he carries on, there’s still a chance he can make a late run to get into the England squad.

There’s definitely more to come from him, that’s just the age he’s at, the stage he’s at in his career you’d like to think, he’s just starting out really essentially. He has got so much experience under his belt in big games and pressured situations, which is going to help him develop learning the game Playing next to Case and learning off him, things that he’s probably not even realising he’s picking things up just by being next to him, as well as the other players around him, I think that’s just part of his journey to learn and develop. I’m really conscious that he’s come in, he’s played the four games and he’s found his rhythm. Young players, they have times when they’re up and then they might have a little dip. That’s not all of a sudden he’s good or he’s a poor player, Kobbie is what he is. Managing that’s really important, especially for younger players and understanding that. He’s doing fantastic at the moment, he’s having a really big impact on games, and we’ll keep working with him and helping him, trying to keep improving him as well as we go.