Manchester United are preparing for the last day of the Premier League season. The match against Watford will be important for another reason though – Michael Carrick will play his final football match, as he is set to become first team coach next season.
Jose Mourinho talked a few days ago about Carrick playing against Hornets in his final Man United match, in front of the full Old Trafford. The player himself will be ending an illustrious career in which he was champions of England, Europe and the world with the Red Devils. Also, Carrick is the last player left from the famous 2007/08 Champions League winning side and with him hanging up his boots, an era at Old Trafford is ending.
“He’s going to start the match as a captain and he’s not going to end the match because I want him to leave the pitch alone and I want him to feel what the United supporters feel in relation to him”, said Jose Mourinho in press conference.
That will be nice touch from both the manager and the club. The team has nothing much to play for, other than a proper send off to a wonderful player Carrick was. He has been one of the most underrated players of the modern era, often being labelled too soft and too slow. People always lacked the ability of seeing how much he actually was important for the way United played. His ability to set the tempo of the match, to dictate it from deep was astonishing and Wayne Rooney always knew that.
“Many people will say that he is underrated but to the lads in the dressing room, we knew his qualities and what he brought to the team. His passing ability and calming influence were a big part in us being so successful”, Rooney said.
However, as his career is coming to an end, new stories about younger players are coming out. One of them is Fabinho. The Brazilian right-back has been one of the most important players at AS Monaco in recent seasons and he could be leaving Monte Carlo at the end of the season.
“Last game [for Monaco]? Maybe… I have already talked about what I want to do. Sometimes I speak too much about that, and it gives the impression that that is what I am concentrated on. We have an important match, that is all that matters”, said Fabinho as Monaco are trying to get themselves into the Champions League next season.
Manchester United would be wise to chase Fabinho this summer as they need to improve every position in the back line. Getting Fabinho quickly could save time and energy to the club, as they will most probably be chasing several more players in other positions.
The summer is set to be busy at Carrington. Manchester United need to make the most of it and sign players in at least four positions. Jorginho’s agent talked about Manchester United not making any kind of contact, but the Italian midfielder is another name the club has been paying attention to. The moves for Fabinho and Jorginho would give a new dimension to this Mourinho side.
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