[Press Conference – Part 2] Carrick: It’s healthy to push each other

__Michael, just on [Matthijs] de Ligt, it’s approaching four months now since he last played and obviously his back, it’s clearly a significant problem. Is there a risk or a chance that he doesn’t play again this season?__

>“Honestly, it’s difficult to say. I think it’s just because it’s taken that much time. Yeah, I can’t give you any more on it really. It’s one of those things with backs that, sometimes, you think it’s alright and then, all of a sudden, it’s not quite right. So, we’re just kind of being patient and working through it and we’ll just have to see. We’ll obviously give him time and try to get him back as quick as we can. But it’s really difficult to say. I am not trying to hide anything. Literally, at the moment, we don’t know, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

__It’s one of those, I suppose, if he comes back, he’s not quite right, there’s a concern that you might be aggravating it, making it a lot worse than it currently is…__

>“Yeah, it’s like any injury, it’s trying to get the balance right. Some are a little bit more straightforward than others. Yeah, kind of it is what it is, really. Yeah, hopefully, listen, he’s improving, it’s not improving as quick as we all hope, but we’ll see how it goes.”

__Michael, your record as United manager, some of the counterparts you’ve beaten, is incredible, really. There are probably Middlesbrough fans looking at that thinking, ‘Wow, we didn’t see that coming.’ Is there something about these games and taking on those managers and maybe the tactical shape of games at the very highest level, that you think is more suited to the way you coach?__

>“Not necessarily. I think we still won a few games in Middlesbrough in the time, it wasn’t so bad. No, I get what you’re saying. I think, yeah, a little bit on styles, a little bit on teams, a little bit on players, a little bit on moments in time, you know. And I’ve kind of been around here a long time, so feel I’ve got an understanding of what it takes really. But yeah, in some ways it’s difficult for me to answer that, you know, I just kind of go about the work that we do and we make the decisions, we try to set the team up in a way with the right feeling and the right ideas and what we think’s right. And, as of late, it’s gone well. Again, it’s a real balance between having the confidence in the group and believing in what we’re doing is going to be the right thing, but understanding that it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve cracked it, and getting carried away. So, I’m definitely one for keeping my feet on the ground and understanding that. Some of the games have been fantastic and we’ve managed to play against some good teams and really some top, top coaches and managed to win. But it’s always about the next one, really, and never looking back to what we’ve just achieved.”

__That understanding you mentioned then and understanding the place. Do you think that dates all the way back to your playing days? That it’s an advantage for you that you know this club, what it means, what’s expected?__

>“Oh, 100 per cent. I think there’s no getting away from that. Playing here for so long and the experiences, I think, definitely has helped me in this situation that I’m in now. For me, that’s pretty obvious and I’ve drawn on those experiences and the feelings of going through moments and what it feels like and how to kind of get through them, what we feel is the best way to get through them. So, without doubt, yeah, it’s a massive part. That’s a massive part why I’m in this position, you know, because of that. I’m trying to use it as best as I can, for sure.”

__I know it’s a bit of a frivolous question, but huddles have been quite topical recently. Gary Neville says how awful they were. You never did them during your time in the club, but the team do still do them. What’s the reason behind them? I take you’re pretty relaxed about it?__

>“Yeah, to be honest, at that stage, it’s up to the players and how they want to go about it, really. I don’t get involved in that part of it, really. I’ll say my bit, but in the changing room and before kick-off. But in terms of that, if they want to do that and if it helps them, then great. If they felt that actually, we don’t want to carry on and do it, then I’m fine with it. Whatever [is best] at that moment. They’re on the pitch, you know, it’s up to them between them as a group. They’ve got to go into battle and they’ve got to go and have that feeling between them, whatever suits them. So, I’m quite calm about what they do at that point.”

__And just related to Matthijs’s injury. It seemed like the team struggled a bit in December when him and Harry were out injured. Harry’s been key to you, starting in all your games. Obviously, his contract’s up in a few months’ time. Would you want him here still next season?__

>“Yeah, there’s obviously talks going on in terms of what the squad’s going to look like, come the end of the season, and what it looks like after that. Harry’s done fantastic for us. I think it’s pretty obvious to say that. He’s had a big impact on what we’ve done. So, we’ll have to see. I enjoy working with him, I think he’s been fantastic for this club and we’ll see what comes of that.”

__As a manager, either here or at Middlesbrough, do you ever get angry at players?__

>“Yeah. I’m not going to sit here and get angry with you at this point [laughs] if that’s what you’re asking. No, I think there’s a time and place, you know. Yeah, obviously we’re disappointed at times and disappointed with the result in Newcastle, so there’s feelings there, without doubt. That’s what I’m saying, what I was talking about earlier, I think being calm and the composure around the place, but it’s sport, elite performance, so you’ve got to play with emotion and feeling and sometimes that is a bit more aggressive. It’s a bit more intense sometimes. So, you’ve got to manage that. And if I don’t manage that, then you can’t always expect the players just to create the right emotion. So yeah, certainly it is part of our role.”

__I mean, the reason I ask is you seem so calm and you also obviously were as a player. When you do [get angry] is it almost like a calculated decision then?__

>“Well, no, I think it’s that drive, you know, ultimately, and it comes out in different ways. So, some of the players will be a little bit quieter. It doesn’t mean they don’t care, they might not show it, but there’s something inside. There’s a drive, maybe there’s a stubbornness at times to want to prove to yourself as much as anything, certainly. And I think anyone, to play at a certain level, you’ve got to have that. You’ve got to have that confidence in yourself and that belief to ultimately pull it off. But the emotion’s part of it. I wouldn’t say I’ve kind of put on a performance, I think I go with how I feel at the time and certain times it’s a little bit louder, maybe, sometimes a bit more feeling, other times it’s calm. It depends what the group want and need at certain points as well. And I guess that’s the ultimate coaching and managing, really, to get the lads in the right frame of mind.”