Carrick's message to Man Utd players on becoming manager 'more important than tactics'

Michael Carrick tells of what he first told the Manchester United players when he became manager and it was more important than "tactics and technique".

The former United midfielder came in the the club in disarray having failed to qualify for Europe and had been knocked out of the cups at the first hurdle.

Under Ruben Amorim the club had also lost its identity with the Portuguese trying to impose a back three which repeatedly failed to work with the players he had available.

And now Carrick says that his first message to the United players was to make them understand "what it means to play for the club".

He said: "The main thing when we came in was to try and create that spirit, the togetherness, that connection.

"All the best teams we have you've always had that part where we look after each other and I knew there was an element of you can change tactics, you can do technical things, it will take you so far but we need something with real substance.

"And that wasn't over coaching to start with, it was more with speaking to the lads about what it means to play for the club, how it is, what the ups and downs are, what it takes to keep winning.

"Just trying to share those experiences to be honest, but as time ticks on you try and improve performance but it wasn't a case of coming in and trying to change the whole thing.

"Put a system in place try and be clear with it and the lads grow as well, they feel it and trust each other, and trust is massive - when you know what you are going to get from someone, someone is going to look after you, these kinds of things, it goes a long way."

United went on to finish third in the league and now are in the ideal position to build over the summer with the side back competing in the Champions League.

But Carrick is not getting carried away as he lies our his expectations: "Keep pushing forward and improving, understanding it is good to make steps and get in the Champions League, to finish third coming from below that, but I think making this place better (is the target).