Diogo Dalot reveals what Michael Carrick has that Ruben Amorim could never match

Michael Carrick has enjoyed immediate success at Manchester United since taking over from Ruben Amorim and Diogo Dalot thinks he knows why the new boss has started so well

Diogo Dalot believes that Michael Carrick is benefiting from knowing what it means to play for Manchester United, which is giving him a key advantage over former boss Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach was sacked little over a year after taking charge, with Carrick being appointed until the end of the season.

The former England international spent more than a decade at Old Trafford during his playing career, playing 464 times and winning the Premier League and Champions League. The ex-Middlesbrough coach has quickly brought that experience back to the club and won four of his first five matches in charge.

Dalot reckons Carrick has brought a measured approach that reflects his knowledge of the club. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, the Portuguese defender provided some insight.

"I think… the biggest advantage of Carrick right now is him knowing exactly what it is to play for Man United," he said. "What it is to be around Carrington, what the people need from you, what the fans expect from you, what this type of game will be.

"And I think that’s the idea. One of his biggest strengths is the balance that he has. He will never be too high, never be too low.."

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Dalot also explained how Carrick immediately injected energy into the squad. "And that energy, when he came, he knew exactly what to say to us," he said.

"And then you can talk tactically. Very key messages, one or two things that you need to go to the game and be aware of it, and then just play the game.

"I think that’s been how we’ve been these last couple of games. And we are being fortunate enough to be playing better than we were playing before."

Ferdinand pushed Dalot on at Carrick's DNA at United actually was, having come from a rigid system under Amorim. The Portuguese star suggested they were returning to fast and direct football.

"I think it’s something that, without the ball, we are closing very well the middle," Dalot said. "So we’re allowing them to play a bit more on the outside, and then we make them press.

"I think we’re defending the box really well, one of the things that we already spoke about and we have to try to improve is a little bit more intensity pressing, like middle third, a little bit help up higher the pitch. We can be a little bit more intense pressing. But when we have to defend our box, we defend our box with our lives.

"And then when we attack, he’s like… you know, if you ask Man United fans what they love about this - fast play, direct, that high tempo, it’s lifting the stadium. And you could see against City the way we played. Even against Spurs, against 10 men, which can become even more difficult than playing against 11, but we had that intensity. We were playing on the front foot. And I think that’s ultimately the DNA of the club."