Michael Carrick has loved every minute since returning to Manchester United and claims he does not need a break after an intense first four months in charge.
The 44-year-old has surpassed expectations with how he has turned around the Red Devils’ fortunes since taking over for the remainder of the season in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s acrimonious January exit.
Carrick has led United to third spot and a Champions League return, leading to him signing a new deal to stay in charge until 2028 ahead of Sunday’s season finale at Brighton.
The former midfielder insists the players will not be mentally on the beach at the Amex and says he does not personally need a rest after a whirlwind 18-week period.
Carrick says his children’s A-levels and GCSEs have stopped him booking a holiday but said when asked if he needs a break after an intense period: “To be honest, no. I feel good.
“I think you get in the rhythm of working, really, of different ways, I’m sure you have different hours to what I do, some of you work more than others, I’m sure.
“You get used to it, you get into the flow of it. I’ve loved it. I’ve loved every minute of it, so I certainly don’t feel that I need a break.”
Carrick will need that energy and focus during what will be a key summer, with the squad needing bolstering for the Champions League and areas like midfield needing attention as Casemiro leaves.
“As a football club, you want to keep moving forward,” Carrick, whose first signing could be Atalanta midfielder Ederson, said. “We certainly as a football club want to keep moving forward.
“I think it’s acknowledged we’re at this stage, and the dynamics and the balance of the direction we’re at, where we’ve ended up getting to and finishing in the league.
“There’s obviously work to do. It’s quite obvious, with certain players leaving, there’s a bit of work to do.”
United will come up against a familiar face, and perhaps a potential target, on Sunday having considered trying to bring back Danny Welbeck in the recent past.
The 35-year-old came through the club’s academy and scored 29 goals in 142 appearances before joining Arsenal in 2014, spending fives years there before a pitstop at Watford and successful time with Brighton.
Sunday will be Welbeck’s 400th Premier League appearance and a chance to add to the eight goals he has scored against United, whose former team-mate Carrick is now in the dugout.
“I’m delighted for him,” the head coach said of Brighton’s Players’ Player of the Season. “He’s scored against us too many times.
“Obviously being here, knowing him from so young, he’s fantastic… I still call him a lad, he’s an old man now. It makes me feel old the fact that he’s that age.
“But huge respect for him. I think he was terrific coming through here, through the academy, and they made a massive impact.
“To go on and have the career he’s had and still be playing so well at the age he is, just shows his mindset, mentality, attitude. All them things to enable you to play to 35.
“He deserves a lot of credit for that and I’m really delighted, genuinely, to see him doing so well.”
