Football Daily - Michael Carrick - The Football Interview

Episode Date: February 20, 2026

In this week’s edition of the Football Interview, Mark Chapman speaks to Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick. He talks about how it felt right when he was offered the job, how he chose his backroom staff, and how they challenge him to be his best. He speaks about the importance of the academy and what young players mean to him at the club which leads into a discussion about Kobbie Mainoo's resurgence and how he's proved he can play in any position in midfield. Timecodes 0’30 - Has doing punditry helped him as a manager? 1’53 - How it felt right when he got the Man Utd job. 4’00 - How he chose his backroom staff and were Man Utd underachieving as group? 5’40 - Did it help that the first two games were Man City and Arsenal? 7’52 - Does he encourage people to get carried away? 8’52 - How he works with his backroom staff and how they challenge him. 11’00 - What the academy and young players mean to him at the club. 13’14 - Man Utd academy is what the club is built upon. 15’43 - Kobbie Mainoo's resurgence and how he can play any position in midfield. 18’40 - How he felt leaving Middlesbrough. 20’10 - Can you manage/coach the same way whatever club you’re at? 23’10 - Could he replicate the hair dryer treatment and how Sir Alex was the best. 23’50 - Does he have to accept that pundits now are players from his era and how players cope with them. 25’00 - How the job is the ultimate role for him.5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1500 Aston Villa v Leeds on Sports Extra, Sat 1500 Chelsea v Burnley on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 West Ham v Bournemouth, Sun 1400 Nottingham Forest v Liverpool, Sun 1400 Sunderland v Fulham on Sports Extra 2, Sun 1400 Crystal Palace v Wolves on Sports Extra 3, Sun 1630 Tottenham v Arsenal.

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From the BBC, this is the interface. the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life, and all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. The Football Interview on the Football Daily podcast. Hello, I'm Mark Chapman.

You're listening to a special episode of the Football. interview for the Football Daily. This week I'll be speaking to the Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. So the last time I saw you was after match the day, were those experiences so bad that you felt you just had to jump at a job that came your way? I have to say, I really enjoyed it.

I've seen it from a different perspective, different angle watching football and a different way. I enjoyed it, but this one was too good to turn it down, unfortunately. Quite a lot of people come out of football, do some analysis and then go back into football. Does it help? I just think it's quite nice to have watch football

sometimes with a free eye, you know, and for so long that I've been used to doing it for a real reason or a purpose or from a team's point of view, it was quite nice for that period of time just to watch it with a bit of freedom, really, and obviously keep your eye in a little bit and keep your brain ticking, you know.

But I enjoyed it, It definitely kind of makes you think a little bit about the game when you're trying to analyze it from a different perspective. You can look at all sorts of ways. You know, I think the main thing is trying to go, right, what are we good at? What are our strengths? How can we ultimately use our strengths?

What's whoever we're playing against? How can we utilize that against the opposition in certain areas? You know, sometimes it can be simpler than us. sometimes it can be quite complex, you know, what goes into the game. Ultimately, in the end, you want to be trying to give the clear message to the players. Clarity for the players is the most important thing, so that filtering process is important. Take us back to the process of getting here to get this and the first phone call that you got and what went through your head?

Well, I was actually in the car, to be honest, I was driving. On your own? Or was it one of those where somebody rings you and you have to, I've got the kids in the car, please don't swear. That's normally why I start vocals with. No, I was in the car driving on my own, for enough going on the way off to Newcastle at the time. And the message come through. So, to be honest, yeah, it was a nice thing to hear. Of course it was, you know.

But it was quite calm about it actually, you know. But here? Yeah. I was, yeah, I don't know why. I just, yeah, it just felt right is the best way I can describe it. It didn't feel anything that was outlandish or any way of surprising in some ways. And that's not me being, not arrogant or blasé in any way. Yeah.

But it just felt quite normal and obviously, you know, get a good feeling from it and excited. I've been here for so long and experienced so much that probably at some point I was always hoping in the back of my mind that I was always hoping, in the back of my mind out of the opportunity would come along and thankfully it has. You smiled, surely? When you got, I mean, surely you smiled. Who did you ring after you put the phone down on that call? No, listen, I was delighted, obviously, you know.

To be at this club is special. So I'm not playing it down, but I just mean the whole, it wasn't the case if I'd come off the phone and shout and scream and celebrate it on the motorway, aren't you? It was, yeah, I just called my wife and said, you know, This is what's happening, this is where we're at, and took it from there, really. So it was all pretty smooth, and all pretty calm.

And as I said, it felt bizarrely normal. So when you agree to do it, and you know the length of time that you're doing it for, what do you start preparing for? Your backroom staff, had those calls already gone in? Yeah, obviously through the kind of process of the days, I think it's, of assessing what needs to be done, what needs to be done, needs to be put in place, what staff, what that balance looks like. And obviously it's quite condensed into a short space of time.

So putting the staff together was something that we had to get right and wanted to get right. So I was really happy with that. I thought that, you know, I would come together, absolutely delighted with the staff. And then the staff that were already here, I kind of knew quite a lot of them anyway. And there was a mixture of knowing what it was expect and a little bit of freshness coming in the building again. So that was nice. And yeah, of course, it's part of the getting the best out of the players, isn't it? So like you say, the first conversations and that first impression goes a long way.

I've been on the other side and someone new comes in the room. My message, to be honest, was, you know, I'm here to support you. I'm here to help you and we're here to push you. So ultimately, we want to get good results here. But there's ways of doing it. And hopefully they've felt that support so far. Did you think they'd been underachieving as a group? It's not really to say whether they achieved or underachieve for me.

I think it's what for me walking in the door was what was in front of us. And I knew it was a really talented group, caterable and a lot of potential within the group. So it was just about what can we do to try and help and improve things and have three days before we played Man City. So it was quite a really kind of compressed, condensed game prep. week with a lot of things going into it in a short space of time. Did it help that it was Manchester City and Arsenal as the first two? You could say it helped now.

Well hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Yeah, I think the fact there was two massive games, you know, City was a huge game playing at home and the atmosphere, you have to say, was pretty special on the day. Even building up to the game, you could feel it in and around the stadium before kickoff. Through the game, it kind of floored and you could feel that. So there's definitely an element of that. It could have gone the other way and you're playing two fantastic football teams

in the first two games and totally respecting the games coming up after that, from my point of view, of what was next and everyone talked about the first two games. But it was a bit unfair, really, on the likes of Fulham and Tottenham. But I suppose, because you talks about the crowd,

what helps you there? And this is a case for any big club in inverted comments. The synergy of the fans and the players for a game like that. United fans weren't arriving at home to city or in the away end at Arsler going, well, come on then entertainers and beat a different team 3-0. They realised that you'd need them. Yeah, that's probably the most pleasing thing since I came is that if the feeling that is around, There's around here, the training ground, the players, the group outside and kind of people

coming up and approaching us and saying how much they're enjoying it and they're excited by what the team can do and then the feeling within the side of the stadium, you know, and seeing the supporters and the reaction and the support, the level of support that we've had, it's kind of impossible to describe how much that helps, but to feel that between everyone, put, you know, it's a real special feeling for me to be in the position to be able to share that with so many people. And that's probably the most satisfying thing so far is getting that connection and feeling that emotion from everyone in such a positive way. Do you encourage people to get carried away? Depends who it is.

If you're a support of... If you're a support... If you're a man or woman in the street who comes up to talk to you... 100%. Yeah, I think that's why you're... poor football club you know that's why you love the game because the emotion of it the highs and the lows and what could happen and the unpredictability and the excitement so that's that's what they are there for you know and um they need to get carried away um different if you're in it

and you're a player and you're a coach or you're in and around it as it as it there's a real business feel to it in many ways we certainly don't get carried away it's I've had it every game so far. As we've moved on, and we're saying it's been a really good start, and we've done a lot of good things, but we can't get carried away with it. We've got to perform. We've got to have a real impact directly on the game.

So to do that, we've got to be in a good headspace, you know, and not enjoy it too much. With the three members of staff that you brought in, in Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate and Johnny Evans, how do you work as a fork? Because there was a lot of attention on the people you brought in. Yeah, well, there's Travis as well, Travis Winning, who was here and he's been here for a number of years now through the academy in 18s and 21. And Craig, who's, Craig Mawson, the goalkeeping coach has been here as well.

So there's a really strong group, and it feels like we've been together a long time, but we didn't all know each other. I didn't really know Steve personally an awful lot before. thought it would come together nicely and there was balanced and there's a reason why I wanted to bring Steve in and Jonathan had him at Middlesbrough, loyal, gets me, knows me, pushes me, challenges me, really good relationship.

I think it's important and Johnny knew the club being here for so long and has a really good relationship with the players as well and loves coaching, loves helping and cares a lot. So there was that and then Travis, I think, the club needs the academy is a massive part of this football club. That's 259 players now have made the debuts, just presented. Tyler Fletcher was the last one.

The academy is a massive part of the club. I think there's a really good balance with the responsibilities of the academy young players and then the balance with Jonathan and Johnny being. It's two of the best centrebacks you can come across in the last 20, 25. five years to pass that their information on Steve with his experience in so many ways Chelsea with changes and managers and different styles of managers and top top players and England you know and all the staff are able to cope being around the environment and I think that's so important so and they challenge you they tell you yeah yeah for sure yeah yeah

not every manager would accept that I can't be right the whole time you know it's impossible and And that's why we've got a group of six in our office. We've all got opinions and strong opinions, but I think we all filter it, and it's important that we have a connection and understanding of what direction we want to go in, and we have to push each other, yeah, for sure. So what does an academy mean to you and young players at a football club mean to you? Yeah, an awful lot.

Listen, I've always kept that feeling of what it was like as a young player and Harry Redneck with West Ham and all the staff. at West Dam and given me the opportunity and support that I needed to, it was up to me to then take it whether I was good enough or not. It's something I've always been, had an eye on, been quite passionate about, to be honest. So, you know, with the tradition of this football club, it's natural to take that on. And it's just a proud moment as any, to give a young player the debut. And Tyler was the last one there on the weekend.

And I know what that means. on that feeling and that heartbeat and that mind racing at that moment. What did you say to him? Because you whispered to him before he came on. What did you say? Yeah, I just said to go on and run around and get as many touches of the ball as you can and go and go and there was a few minutes to go.

I think it's important he went on there and made the most of it, you know, and it wasn't anything tactical. It wasn't anything outrageously difficult in terms of football-wise. It was the moment that he earned it and hopefully there'll be many more as well the other young player so but the understanding of that moment and what's going through you didn't need me to say much more than that he went on and done great would you say it's a bit general i suppose but does your mentality does your emotions do your beliefs mean you would always slightly

favour giving an 18 19 year old a chance over and a 30 year old that's been brought in as i say it's a bit of a general question but yeah i think it's difficult it's difficult to to to see, I think, but it's definitely always an eye on trying to help the younger players and give them a chance and watching them and keeping an eye on them and to know what, who's doing well, who's doing what, and the layers as you go down the age groups at the club. But there's certainly a want from not just me, but all the staff and everyone at the club to try and produce the young players and give them opportunities as much as we can. And is the, is the, a United Academy player has always been in the starting, as a

I suppose being the first team match day squad since, I'm 1930 something, isn't it? Is that a sense of pride? How much can it become a slight millstone if you would be the one that breaks that wrong? Huge sense of pride on behalf of the whole football club, I think, to have that is really outstanding to have for such a long period of time to have that

and it's something we need to hold on to. It's what this football club is built upon really, and has been for so many decades. So yeah, sure, I'm definitely well aware of it and we want to carry it on. When you watch the academy and you're watching the underage teams as well, when you go, is the pipeline, again,

I'm not putting pressure on them, but is the academy in good health? Yeah, I think it's in great hands. I think it has been, I think historically here, it's kept producing players year after year. And we always hope for the next group or the next individual.

It's so much good work. that goes into the academy. There's so many coaches, there's so many members of staff. We get carried away sometimes about the football in results in where we're at now. It's wins and draws and losses

that count in some ways, but it's about developing young people and behaviours and helping them. There's so many players from this club that have maybe not even made the debut here, but have moved on and had unbelievable careers in the game. And I think that's something, again,

that as a football club, we're really proud of. To embrace The Impossible, requires a vehicle that pushes what's possible. Defender 110 boasts a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms, a weighting depth of 900 millimeters, and a roof load up to 300 kilograms. Learn more at landrover.ca. If there was a big rent button that would just demolish the internet,

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The Football Interview on the Football Daily podcast. So following on from the Academy chat then, so much noise around Cobby Maynou this season and not feature. and now he's featured all the time under you. What did you see when you first got to work with him mentally? How was he? And how have you got him to where he is at the moment? I've not, I've known Cobby a long time.

I started working with him. I think he was 13 or 14, really, when I started to do my coaching badges a good few years ago. So I've kind of only little bits. And then obviously when I was here, the first time he was in and around little bits of working with him. So I think not, knowing him and having an experience with him and seeing him, you know, to perform at such

a level and such big occasions to be able to cope with the, the, I said earlier about coaches being able to cope with being here and at the level, you know, to deal with what Coby's done at such a young age is, it's quite incredible really and we forget how young he still is. So I was just a big fan of watching and playing. and knowing what he was capable of. So it wasn't really a big decision to play him. And to be fair, he's not easy when you haven't played to find your rhythm and find your form.

He's come in and he's did fantastic. So I'm not really had to help him an awful lot. I've just given that freedom to go and play. So given midfield was your area, what is he in an era of six, eight, tens, this, that, the other? I don't think it matters. Generally, I don't think it matters. I think he can do, he can do,

bit of, I think he's showed he can do a bit of everything. I think he's playing in a two that now, has been with Casamiro a lot. I think compliment each other, helps them both. He takes the ball everywhere, Cobby, he's unfazed by anything. There's things he can get better at,

things he can improve on, but we haven't really got started in any of that because he's just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again. So I've been really conscious and not really giving him an awful lot. a couple of little pointers, a bit of positional things,

and a little bit here and there. But trust in what he is, you know, he's a fantastic football and he's got a huge talent. You're taking a full range here of this football club. It's not I'm just going to look after the first team and do it and then see what happened. Do you think that's important? And do you think it's unusual?

It's just how I see it. It's just how I see it. To be honest, I think it's vital that in the position I am that, I genuinely care and, as I said, probably being here for so long. I know what the club, what really matters to the football club and to the people in and around it, you know. So it's just what I believe should be done, really. I'm not comparing it to anyone.

I'm not saying I'm better or worse than anyone. It's just I just think it's what exactly should be done in my position. Go back to when you left Middlesbrough and after you left Middlesbrough, how you felt? I felt quite proud of the work we did actually, disappointed that had ended. but again I think going back to talking about here about behaviours and ways to do it I think I was proud of how we handled it really out in terms of helping players development players you know a lot of players moved on to kind of better the careers in different ways which I was really proud of Moken Rudge has been a

yeah Morkin was one there's quite quite a few over the two and a half years that we feel that we helped in different ways and So again, results is what you judged on and I get it and I understand that, but there's a lot more that is a coached and as a manager that you can, you try and I certainly tried to impact as well. So, yeah, there's disappointment that it came to an end, but at the same time, proud of what we had done and delighted to see them doing so well at the moment. Why do you think it did come to an end? Yeah, it comes to an end. I think two and a half years was quite a long stint in some ways for what. the averages in and around the league.

So it happens, you know. Unfortunately, we tried to get promoted. We didn't do it, but at the moment they look like they've got a really good chance, so hopefully they can pull it off. Do you think, let's say another big area of debate

at the moment, I think, about whether you can manage and coach the same way, wherever you are, whatever football club you're at, wherever you are in the pyramid, do you think you can? Or do you think you have to, adapt?

There's certainly adapt. I think you've got to adapt to people as well, you know? I think there's I say the game a certain way, just naturally. Who are the managers that you played for that you look to incorporate now in what you're doing?

I think part of experience is just sometimes you do things without totally knowing why you've acted in a way or what's made you make that decision or treat someone like that. And there's a few times maybe I've done something

and then it's not till after and I remember something that's happened years ago with different managers or coaches and you think, oh, that actually happened there. So it kind of sometimes experience is a beautiful thing to kind of draw upon in different ways, you know, and that's life in any way, you know. Listen, Sir Alex had the biggest impact on me.

I think that's pretty obvious to say because everything we kind of achieved here. but I think just learning and knowing that I've never got all the answers and just keep searching for more experience and that's why the staff are there to help in that regard. It sounds in many ways you rely on the human being side of things rather, I don't mean this in a disparaging room, rather than a flip chart and a, you know.

Yeah, that's me. I like being around people, I like sharing things. I'm not one that would be. an individual as such and don't promote the fact I've got all the answers and I'm quite happy to discuss that. I think getting the best out of people, whatever that is, whether that's in the industry of TV, whether that's in the industry of sport or business, I think treating people in a way in respect, but pushing, like I said, for me, support and helping, but pushing is in the feeling the connection. I think that whatever it is, the tactical side, technical side

will help when we can get better at all that but if you you haven't got that connection and that buying and that willingness to want to come with you and follow you then all the other bits you know kind of lose the value and don't get

to fill all that potential so I see it is a massive a massive thing to get that connection with people there's a time for all sorts of emotions and that's the beauty of being in the position you've got to pick the right time and tap on the right kind of buttons to get the right reaction.

You know, that's... And if that's the case, that's the case. But I don't necessarily think it's just because something's gone wrong, it has to be that. Sometimes something's gone wrong, but they might need a bit of help or someone might need a bit of support. Sometimes it's for a reason and, yeah, you get angry about things. That's all right, that's fine.

Players can get angry about things, and we want them to be fired up in a way so they've got to use emotion, so I've got no problem with any of that. When you witnessed the hairdriere, were you like, crikey? Yeah, I'm not sure I could replicate that. And I wouldn't try to, but yeah, a couple of times I've seen it, and it puts you on there, puts you the back of your seat, trying to get further away from it.

But again, you know, you're talking about Sir Alex, and he was the genius at using people and getting the best out of people in so many different ways, support, pushing, a bit stronger than pushing at times. But it worked, you know, but it was all about getting the best out of his players. Do you have to accept that a loss of the players from that era are now pundits? In the same way that when you were playing, a lot of the successful Liverpool team were pundits. Do you have to accept it and just shut it out?

And is that easier for you than it is for your younger players? Yeah, it doesn't bother me one bit. I didn't think it was. Generally, it doesn't. everyone's got things they want to do or they enjoy doing. There's different ways in the industry to play a part in the industry. So I've got no problem with that. I can't really fall out with anyone over that.

I think it's a respect thing as much as anything, really, and I'll give and take that. I think for younger players, I think in general, it's something we need to help them and look after them. It's a different world now to when it's the hours coming through. terms of the exposure, the constant just social media of being, it's just there all the time. So there's certainly things we need to help them with and look after them and educate them. But on the other side of things, that's all they know.

So, and then they're used to it in certain ways, you know. If I were to ask you if you wanted it, beyond, I know, I know you'll have a stock answer, but I also think you're probably very much just what will be will be, are you? It's not a stock answer, you know. Listen, for me, it's the ultimate role, you know. I'm really enjoying it. I love what I'm doing. I'm fortunate.

I feel privileged to be in the position I am, but it's not the fact that I believe I can do it, you know, and I'm here for it to do. I said it when I came in. There's the sentimental side of that, of understanding the role and coming through the club and being here and loving the club and being a supporter and all that side of it is one thing,

but actually I'm here. I'm here to do. a job now and to make a good team and be successful. So I don't decide how long that's going to be, but I love being here. And while I'm here, I'll give everything I can. And I always plan for the long-term future for the benefit of the football club. That's how I believe it should be. And you're very happy, aren't you?

Yeah. I've smiled enough for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm loving what I'm doing. It's, again, you know, really good people, the staff are fantastic. players are being unbelievable. It's a really good place to come in every single day to drive in and look forward to being here.

And then obviously, and in around the city and globally that, you know, the reaction and the support that you get is just, it's very hard to describe. It's incredible. So, yeah, I'm delighted to be here. But if people keep asking you that, then you might shout out to them.

Possibly. Thank you. Thanks a lot. Five live sports. The Six Nations. Rugby's greatest championship. What a day of the Six Nations it's been. Live commentary of every match on BBC Sounds.

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If there was a big rent button that would just demolish the internet, I would smash that button with my forehead. From the BBC, this is the interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life, and all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.