Manchester United: Michael Carrick’s side have ‘second chance’ to prove Champions League credentials – Reporter Notebook | Football news

After Manchester United’s stunning win over Manchester City, Ski Sports News Journalist Dan Cann assesses whether Michael Carrick’s side can now take a “second chance” to prove their Champions League credentials…

United’s first goal against City on Saturday brought something to the crowd at Old Trafford. You couldn’t help but feel something.

I immediately went back to the legendary goals scored against Arsenal. Whether it was in the 2009 Champions League second leg – led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Park-Ji Sung and Wayne Rooney – or a year later in the Premier League where Nani and Rooney (again) led their own devastating counter-attack against the Gunners.

Brian Mbeum’s opener was not just a classic counter-attacking goal. If you look at that second goal I just mentioned – it featured Rooney racing at the top of his lungs between five Arsenal players to receive the ball from Nani to score. Amad Diallo and Mbeumo showed the same urgency when Bruno Fernandes found himself in the perfect position to lead the counter.

Next, context is needed. Weeks of tension and impatience from the Old Trafford crowd after grueling and frustrating performances against Wolves, West Ham and Burnley over the past month have left many wondering: where will their next victory come from?

The Manchester derby was an impressive win for Michael Carrick and his staff, but there is also a reluctance to get too carried away. Despite it being their best 90-minute performance in years, this United team showed they can deliver in one-off games.

But can they follow it? Even after an impressive performance against City, not many United fans will be going to Sunday’s game against Arsenal, live Ski Sportsexpecting to win – a positive performance and result would be an incentive.

But I’m already more curious how this team will fare in the post-Arsenal games when Carrick’s side face Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham.

Here we will find out if they are in serious contention for a place in the Champions League.

I said similar in November and December when they had a run of games against ‘lower’ ranked opposition and failed to capitalize during that time which ultimately led to the departure of Ruben Amorim.

This is a second chance.

United training is changing under Carrick

It was abundantly clear watching some of United’s training sessions this week and speaking to people around the club as they prepared for Arsenal that there had been some subtle changes.

Carrick addressed the players at the start of the session, as did Amorim, but it was still intriguing to see Carrick in the role of head coach as they began their training sessions. This was the first time we had an insight into training with our Ski cameras in attendance.

From the open area we saw, watching Carrick, Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland lead the session in unison was fascinating.

The Netherlands especially made an impression – they pushed and encouraged the players to maintain a high level. It sounds obvious, but the Dutch experience carried a certain authority that was noticeable from our position.

One change under Carrick and his staff is the shortening of sessions while increasing the intensity within them. There was a noticeable and positive reaction among the first team.

Although we could not see this in the open part of the session, from what I understand, another positive change is the increase in individual work with different players in the team.

Under Amorim, it was widely understood, the team would spend a lot of time on the range walking through the systems and formations in which they would line up.

Despite the fact that Amorim said that this time on the field, the more this team trains on the field, the more positive results it will produce, that did not happen. This is not a criticism of the Portuguese coach, but whatever the team has been doing, it hasn’t led to the consistency needed to succeed.

Sunday, January 25, 4:00 p.m

Start at 16:30

Shorter but intense sessions together with an increased amount of time spent on individual work has (albeit one game in) created a positive atmosphere under Carrick.

But there are also important messages from Carrick and his staff.

As mentioned earlier, no one in Carrington or outside will get carried away with one win against Manchester City due to the false starts of previous managers.

But as Carrick announced to the media during his first week in charge, he told his players that they should enjoy playing for the club and accept the responsibility and privileges that come with the shirt, even if they don’t get carried away.

Time will tell if these changes will have a short-term impact on the team or will be the foundation of a successful second half of United’s season.

What is clear is that this coaching staff has made an impression on this group of players and after such a challenging 14 months under Amorim, if they start to enjoy their football again, they may find themselves in the Champions League next season.

Watch Manchester United visit Arsenal on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports. It starts at 16:30.

Manchester United’s next five matches

• January 25: Arsenal (A) – Premier League, kick-off 16.30, live on Ski Sports
• February 1: Fulham (H) – Premier League, kick-off at 2 p.m., live on Ski Sports
• February 7: Tottenham (H) – Premier League, start at 12.30
• February 10: West Ham (A) – Premier League, start at 20.15
• February 23: Everton (A) – Premier League, kick-off 20:00, live on Ski Sports