Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick.

Carrick in confident mood ahead of Spurs away

Friday 11 January 2019 15:00

With Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both in good form, Michael Carrick is convinced Sunday’s collision at Wembley Stadium has all you need to make a great Premier League occasion.

The Reds have registered five consecutive wins across all competitions following the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager in late December, boosting morale and confidence.

Likewise, Spurs have tallied up four victories from their last five fixtures and that positive run includes Tuesday night’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg success over London rivals Chelsea.

United are currently sixth in the Premier League table and beating third-placed Tottenham would provide a massive boost in the pursuit of a top-four place. Obtaining that result will not be easy, of course, but Carrick remains confident that we can come away from Wembley against his old club with three points.

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Watch our exclusive interview with coach Michael Carrick at the training camp in Dubai.
“It’s always nice to play them but, at this moment in time, it’s a huge game for us,” Michael explained to us during an exclusive interview in Dubai, where the squad trained this week. “They’re in good form and we’re in good form so it’s got the makings of a great game. We need the points and that’s all I’m focused on, because it will set us up for, hopefully, a good run until the end of the season.
 
“It will be tough and we know what to expect. They’re in good form, dangerous and can score goals. They’ve got a lot of threats throughout the team. We’ll be ready for that, but it’s about us. We’ve got such a big threat coming from all angles and that’s what we’re trying to get the best out of.
 
“The confidence and the belief is there in the squad. A few wins makes such a massive difference to each individual, as well as the team. So we need to keep that going. There is a lot to work on, we’re not taking things for granted, there is a lot more to come, and that’s what we’re striving toward.”

Meanwhile, Carrick has paid tribute to caretaker manager Solskjaer and explained how the Norwegian’s arrival has lifted the squad.

“Ole’s got that personality that rubs off on everybody, he’s so positive, he’s so upbeat all the time,” Michael said in Dubai earlier this week.

“I think you can see that rubbing off on individuals, and that goes a long way to bringing the best out of the players.”

Our recently-retired club legend also praised his fellow coach Kieran McKenna for easing his transition into the next chapter of his career.

“I must say Kieran has been a big help, because he’s an experienced coach and he’s helped me out,” confessed the former midfielder. 

“For me, it’s quite new and I am learning on the job a little bit, and he’s been fantastic. He’s a terrific coach and he’s passed on a lot of things already to me. Even though he’s younger than me, he’s a lot more experienced on this side of things.”

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