Carrick: Imperfect pre-season opener is natural, no injuries most important

After a 0-1 loss to Wrexham in the first preseason match, Manchester United manager Carrick was interviewed by the club's official media.

Michael, was that the competitive game you wanted and expected today?

Yes. As I said before the game, the lads have been back in training for about a week to ten days. Today the focus was on finishing the game smoothly, finding positive elements and bright spots, and at the same time we knew the performance wouldn't be perfect, which is natural in the first game. So, I think the most important thing is that everyone finished the game smoothly, in good physical condition, and without injuries. This way we can move forward and take a new step for the next game next week.

That's a positive sign. Are there any other highlights? Andrey Santos made his debut, and it was great to see his performance in midfield.

Indeed, there are many small positive elements. I think he and Mount both performed very well, cooperating well, and you can see the highlights from it. At the top of the field, because they've only been training for a week, that nimble, small-area movement and the brilliant moments we expect will gradually emerge as the training weeks increase. This is the current situation, but I am very satisfied with Andrey's rhythm and integration in his first game, and it's great to see him in a Manchester United shirt.

The very young team in the second half performed well, putting a lot of pressure on the opponent, especially in the final stages.

Yes, I was very pleased with the team in the second half. I thought they controlled the game well, and they played hard against an opponent that wasn't easy to deal with. The opponent could play long balls to Kieffer Moore, and Jacob (Devaney) moved to center-back, which isn't his natural position; he's played it occasionally before but not often, but I thought he performed extremely well. Overall, the lads took responsibility and showed their strength. Again, at this stage, after a week of training, it's not easy to break through the opponent's dense wall in the penalty area with agility and creativity, but these things will come. I am very satisfied with the young players in the second half, and they can be proud of themselves.

You mentioned that Jacob (Devaney) can play in different positions. He performed well after returning from his loan in Scotland, so this preseason is also an opportunity for him to show his abilities.

Indeed. He had a very successful few months there. You could see that confidence and composure in his game today, even in a slightly different position. He was constantly communicating and showing leadership. I really liked his performance today.

And Tyler Fletcher, wearing the captain's armband must be a proud moment for him. He also participated in the World Cup not long ago, so this year has already been very eventful for him.

Yes, Tyler has had a very busy three or four months. He didn't rest for long, about two weeks; he didn't want a long break and wanted to get back into it quickly. I think he took responsibility again and led the team well in the second half.

So what's next? Back to Carrington for more training, then to Trondheim next Friday for the next game.

Yes, we will continue to improve next week. Because there's a game next Friday, this week will be shorter, but we will gradually build up and look forward to the match. As more players return, the squad will get stronger, which is what we expect. We have a great squad now, and we look forward to the upcoming games and continuously seeking improvement and progress.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com