Michael Carrick explains impassioned monologue, straight from Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook

Michael Carrick began his Friday press conference with a 5-minute 27-second monologue that spanned almost 1,000 words. It was well received.

With Michael Carrick under intense scrutiny to save his job at Manchester United, the 45-year-old opened up his press conference on Friday with an impassioned five-and-a-half-minute monologue before taking any questions. It left the media so startled that they forgot to request team news ahead of the Premier League fixture against Bournemouth.

Not since Sir Alex Ferguson has a United manager begun a press conference without taking a question, so it was straight from the legendary Scot’s playbook. He now needs to replicate something special from his former manager in terms of winning football matches.

The downpour on Carrick worsened on Wednesday when Bruno Fernandes questioned his tactics. Still, nobody can dispute how much this job means to the former England midfielder.

Michael Carrick gets what Man Utd means

Results are bad, but nobody can deny that Carrick gets United. He spoke about Ferguson, Matt Busby and Bobby Charlton as references when describing the responsibility he has as head coach.

In the later section of his press conference, Carrick was asked why he started it with a long monologue rather than questions, like he usually does. It was a perfectly acceptable question that led to a strong response.

Carrick told the reporters: “Because I understand the situation. I fully understand the situation and I understand my position and I know what this football club means to so many people and I don’t, again, please don’t say that the history is one thing and that’s why it doesn’t give you the right to keep winning.

“Teams that win earn the right to win. So, it’s important that we draw inspiration from the history in the past of what’s gone on, but our responsibility is to carry that forward, and it’s so important to me that we do that.”

In a follow-up question, Carrick was asked whether he has been in contact with Ferguson or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He revealed that he’s in regular contact with both and isn’t afraid to lean on them for advice.

“I speak to both of them quite regularly to be honest,” Carrick concluded.

“There’s nothing in particular from that. I’m close to both of them and we do have regular conversations, so it’s nothing different this week.”