Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome into the latest edition of ESPN FC. I'm Dan Thomas joined by Stevie Nicoll. A full programme of midweek Premier League games means that Manchester United have the chance to win five in a row. Let's just remind you how things stand in the table as they go into that clash against West Ham. Obviously fourth in the table. It's been an incredible run.
Since Michael Carrick has taken over, as if United fans need any reminder, let's just show exactly how he's done it, of course. That win in the derby against City, going to Arsenal winning 3-2, that late victory against Fulham, and of course that comfortable victory this Saturday against Spurs. How's he done it? Well, Mario Malchio joins us, but we're also joined by Dimitar Berbatov.
Chapter 2: What led to Manchester United's recent success under Michael Carrick?
Dimi, what is the key? What's the secret sauce? You know Michael Carrick. How has he changed this team around so quickly?
Well, I think it's communication. If you know how to speak to the players, if yourself has been a professional football player at that level, like Mike was, I think he knows how to speak the language in a way that the players at United feel appreciated.
to trust him and after that to get his idea and you know put it into play onto the pitch because the players are the same the players are the same just obviously the manager is different and the system is different but the most important things which are the players are still the same And we can all see how they play now.
You know, they play with flair, with belief, with confidence, with arrogance when they need to, you know, like a team. And it's a joy to watch right now.
When you played with him, did you think this is a future Manchester United manager?
No, not at the time, because obviously when you play, you think about the games, etc. But obviously now when he's in this position to manage, he's showing that he is capable of doing these things. And so far in the games that we watched and we saw, everything is just happening for the team, for him.
And the consistency they will find, or I hope they will find until the end of the season, will be the test. if Michael can get the job permanently after the end of the season.
So is it, Stevie, as simple as keeping it basic and talking to your players? That just seems not amateurish, but too simple, I suppose.
It does, it sounds like it, but it really is true. And all the things that we've said about it, and that Dimitrov was talking about there, you know, driving in... Who? Dimitrov? Sorry, Dimitrov.
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Chapter 3: How has Michael Carrick transformed the team so quickly?
And Michael Carrick has absolutely found a way of getting through to the players. And they've basically been freed up by the way he talks to them and by the way they're training.
So how can Amarino have got it so wrong, Mario?
Because, you know, what Amarin did, you know, look, okay, when you become a coach, you got to look at the material that you have. And then you look at what you should be playing. But what Amarin had, he didn't look at the material. He just picked his own spot. He just said, no, we're going to do that.
So he didn't really care about if the team cannot handle the three at the back and the four in the middle, whatever he wanted to do. He didn't care that much.
I think the difference with Carrick is, Carrick, as a player, he was a guy that always, you understand, like, the way he influenced games, you understand, in the middle of the park, it was like, always tried to be in control, always seeing things, tried to anticipate, tried to see it before it happened.
Now, if you look at his team, they all find each other very easy, they know exactly where they need to be, and everybody's in the spot, so it becomes an automatic play sometimes. And I think this is one of the key things, and like Dima said, and what Stevie said,
The way you talk to them, there were two things, the way of talking, because some people sometimes think it's words only, but sometimes it's also the proof how you play the game and how he plays the game and how he wants his team to play the game. It's almost identical to each other. So it's not like I'm watching Man United doing something totally different.
No, I'm watching Man United almost playing the way he was as an individual, because that's how he played the game and understanding it and knowing exactly what the holes were and try to always be in control of the game. And I think that is what they're trying to build now.
Dimmy, do you give him the job permanently?
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Chapter 4: What challenges does Cristian Romero face after his red card?
Let's just enjoy game by game how United is improving, playing. After the end of the season, we'll wait and see what happens.
A lot of people, as you mentioned, are comparing his run to when Solskjaer first came in, Dimi. Is that fair, saying, yeah, he had a good run at the start, but then look what happened afterwards. He was out of his depth.
Well, people are comparing. We all can see the similarity because sometimes when the new manager comes in, that fresh breath of fresh air and the players are free to play now the way they want to play. And we can see how United's changed with the same players. And there are similarities, but again, In my perspective, from my point of view, I am enjoying what I see right now.
I'm cautiously optimistic about the team still, although they play great football. But I think they should go game by game until the end of the season. Because who knew that now United will be three points, I think, from the second place or four where we were in the beginning of the season. So at the moment, everything is going in the right direction.
So let's wait and see. Of course, a lot of the players' form has turned around since Carrick comes in, including Cesco. Am I right, Demi, that you spoke to him, that Carrick asked you to speak to the striker to give him some advice? What did you say?
No, that was a false news. I read it somewhere.
Stevie showed it to me. I tell you what, you offered some great advice. You look really good.
No, no, no.
Listen. Sometimes in the media, sometimes in the media, false news appear. Does it give a striker a chance? Obviously, it gives him to prove basically the old manager's wrong.
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Chapter 5: How does Erling Haaland's form impact the Premier League title race?
Then you miss a chance or two, and now your confidence drops even lower. So he's in a circle of finding his confidence with a good goal, but then not playing, missing a chance, his confidence again drops. So it's a difficult situation to be in, and that's why the work is fundamental. That management and training specifically for the situation that he's going to be in the games.
And that's, I imagine, where your coaching has to go up a level. Just to keep everybody on board and keep that confidence up despite the fact you're not starting the player.
Yeah, 100%. I think it helps that he's still really, really young. Right. You know, and I think also right now, there's no pressure on him. So... I don't think he's going to be sitting every Friday when he gets the team shit and he's not in it, going home and cussing and not happy and the whole thing.
Yes, he wants to play, but I think he's at the stage of his career where right now, the way things are going for him, I think they're okay. You know, he can keep coming on, keep getting his opportunities. I mean, the fact that he missed that opportunity, I'd forgotten all about it. I couldn't have told you he'd missed a great chance in that game. And that's a good thing.
And again, listen, I wasn't a striker, but I think you can relate it all around the field. You know, when your career gets built... The longer things just move along without any real pressure, just smoothly, doing nothing crazy, being solid, getting your basics right, just all the things that you can do to just improve. And then there does come a point where, right, I need to be playing.
But I think right now... I don't believe Cesco's in a position where he's like, I need to be playing, this is not good for me. I think he's learning his trade, basically. Do you agree, Mario?
This is a player who, of course, arrived with a big price tag.
Yeah, no, I understand what the guys are saying. It's like, look, sometimes you've got to wait your time and the timing is very important. I think, like we said, you understand, like I think Dima highlighted very good was his confidence. You know, as an individual, it doesn't matter where you play in the field, what position you play, you need to play with some confidence.
The only way for him to get the confidence is either you play games or you practice so hard on yourself, you understand, at moments where, you know, when the training is finished, you're going to do your work. Do your individual work. And if you do your individual work, your confidence starts boosting.
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Chapter 6: What are the implications of Carrick's management style on player performance?
I say it to everybody that, you know, regardless if you play in England, it doesn't matter where you play. If you don't play, work so hard on yourself that when you play, you are ready to show the difference. Because if you don't do anything and you just do what the group does, believe me, when you get your chance, you're not going to be sharp enough to take it.
Manchester United then very much in the conversation to finish in the top four. Meanwhile, it's a very different conversation when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur at the moment. Of course, another defeat for them. They were good for the first 20 minutes, but we saw obviously what happened when Romero got sent off. It's a team sitting 15th in the table. They're only six clear of the relegation zone.
It's impossible... to talk about this game without talking about Romero. As a teammate, if you're a Spurs supporter, how do you feel about that moment? Well,
It was an unnecessary foul from Romero, but in his case, from what I observed, from what I saw, his posts, the way he plays the game, history of red cards, I think because he's the captain, he's a world champion as well, I think his confidence here is very big and that can lead to false expectations
false confidence of you thinking that you can do everything and here with uh because he thinks he's that good on the ball uh he just make mistakes with heavy touch and then it leads to the to the to the red card so uh my mind is always being know your strong qualities he's the leader he's the captain he's outspoken he speaks even when he doesn't need to speak he speaks uh but he needs to
to be more humble from time to time and know that he needs to lead by example. The red card was not the example because the moment he received that red card, the game finished. There were no chance they were going to win that game.
So that sometimes comes from that false confidence that you are the man, you're the guy, you can do everything, and then that leads to mistakes like it was in this case. Should he be Spurs captain, Dimi?
Mm-hm.
Oh, you're asking the wrong person. I'm not the manager. Of course, he has the qualities. As I said, he's a world champion. He can be very stable in the back. He has great chemistry with Miki van de Ven. They have a good connection going on there.
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Chapter 7: How does Spurs' recent performance affect their standing in the league?
I can see him almost suppressing anger sometimes when he's doing press conference. I can see that he's angry at some of the situation. He doesn't...
always allow himself to express that anger so everybody can see but I think it's there and of course you you should be angry in situation like this because you basically you lost the game the moment that red card happened and I think a conversation honest with your captain could happen because this is the guy that is translating your ideas to you to your team this is the guy that leads and
So in a situation like this, be honest, be direct. You need to be, as a manager, there and say, look, you're the captain. That's wrong what you're doing. And I know that he likes him because the way he speaks about him and he should be, but he needs to be direct with him and say, this cannot continue. Four games now, you're going to watch from the sidelines and we're going to miss you.
Overall, Didi, as someone who's well-connected at Spurs, how sad is it to watch them play at the moment?
Like a team, you mean? It's painful because when watching United and Spurs, I'm split in the middle. And because I respect both teams, I love both teams. But Spurs right now, in this moment, if the results don't go their way, they'll be in relegation battle. I mean, come on. It's unbelievable. And they have a good team. they can surprise you, but they can disappoint you.
So it's always been the same story with Spurs, I think, that consistency, they cannot find it. They can have a great game, surprise everybody, but the next time, disappoint everybody. So if they don't find that consistency, they'll be in trouble.
Yeah, indeed, they could be dragged into that relegation scrap. A lot more on what happened at Old Trafford between Man Utd and Spurs on the latest edition of the Gab and Jules show. That is available now to listen to as a podcast. Oh, Jules looks like Don today. We talked a lot yesterday about the controversial decisions and what happened with Manchester City and Liverpool big picture.
One thing we didn't talk too much about, which I think we need to just focus on a little more, and Dimi, I want to start with you, was Sobislai's free kick. How impressive is this?
Look at that beauty, huh? It's unbelievable. I think it's a bit underestimating from Donnarumma because he's a good goalkeeper. He knows he's a good goalkeeper and he's like, ah, don't worry about it, I have this.
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Chapter 8: What are the key differences between Carrick and previous managers at United?
He talks about the fact that fatigue is involved. and also a little bit of confidence as well, which is interesting, Dimi, because you think of someone like Haaland, you think, well, he's never going to get tired, and he always thinks he's going to score.
Yeah, yeah, because we're everybody, we're robots, and we don't need brakes, etc. Of course, you need to recover after the games. Of course, you need time to get your muscle firing up again. Even when your name is Erling Haaland, And when your expectation is sky high, people will always ask questions when you don't score. It's always the same story. So he knows this.
There's no excuses because he set the standards so high with the goals he's scoring. But I'm not worried. This guy is a machine. This guy knows how to score, how to find the ball. The ball finds him. Of course, from time to time, you're going to have moments where you're not going to score. You're going to miss a chance here and there. You're going to miss a penalty.
But when you have the quality that he possesses, I'm not worried about him. He's going to score goals for many years to come.
You've been in that situation as well. Do you need advice from people? Has people said something to you that's helped? Or is it just a case of, look, leave me alone, I know what I'm doing?
No, that's the wrong thing. Leave me alone. No, I'm doing. It's like basically saying I'm God. You know, you don't do that. You have people around you. Is it the manager? Is it some of good friends in your teammates? Is it your agent? Is he your dad? Sometimes you have someone who's going to give you advice. Depends on you if you're going to take it or not.
So what sort of advice did you receive in the past that was actually helpful at the time?
Stay strong in the head. Right. I think that's one of the most important stuff as a striker, in a striker perspective, when you don't score goals. Because people will be on your back, why are you not scoring? Yeah, you can go up and down the pitch, chasing, defending, but your main objective is to score goals.
So when you're not scoring, people will be on you, media, fans, you'll be on top of you, asking questions, am I good enough? And I'm still good enough. So stay strong in the head. It's the most important thing.
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