Carrick retains focus on Chelsea amid talk of Rangnick arrival

Rangnick
is
widely
anticipated
to
be
appointed
on
a
six-month
deal
following
the
end
of
Ole
Gunnar
Solskjaer’s
reign
last
week,
with
a
potential
longer
stay
at
Old
Trafford
in
role
a
behind
the
scenes.

The
German,
who
is
head
of
sports
and
development
at
Lokomotiv
Moscow,
will
not
be
in
charge
in
time
for
Sunday’s
visit
to
Stamford
Bridge.

United
head
into
that
fixture
12
points
behind
the
leaders
and
six
points
adrift
of
the
top
four,
and
temporary
boss
Carrick
is
solely
concentrated
on
narrowing
those
gaps
rather
than
talk
of
what
change
may
come
to
the
club
after
the
game.

“Speculation
and
reports
are
just
that,”
Carrick
told
a
media
conference.

“My
head
is
just
on
the
game.
My
pure
focus
is
on
preparing
the
team
as
best
as
I
can.

????
“My
pure
focus
is
on
preparing
the
team
as
best
as
I
can,”
says
Michael.

“It’s
a
huge
responsibility
that
I
have
at
the
moment
and
I’ve
given
it
everything.
Anything
after
Sunday
is
not
in
my
thoughts
at
the
moment.”
????#MUFC
|

#CHEMUN

—
Manchester
United
(@ManUtd)

November
26,
2021

“It’s
a
huge
responsibility
that
I
have
at
the
moment
and
I’ve
given
it
everything.
Anything
after
Sunday
is
not
in
my
thoughts
at
the
moment.”

Solskjaer
oversaw
a
run
of
two
wins
in
eight
games
in
all
competitions
before
leaving
the
club,
that
streak
featuring
humbling
defeats
to
Liverpool
and
Manchester
City
and
capped
off
by
a
dismal
4-1
loss
at
Watford.

Yet
Carrick
believes
the
Norwegian
has
laid
good
foundations
for
whoever
takes
the
reins.

“One
of
the
biggest
things
during
Ole’s
time
here
was
the
stuff
people
don’t
see
day-to-day,”
he
added.
“We
were
improving,
finished
well
last
season.
Everything
else
can
get
overshadowed,
but
it
is
all
still
there.

“Whatever
happens
next
it
is
a
great
starting
point.”

Carrick
restored
the
winning
feeling
at
United
with
a
2-0
Champions
League
victory
at
Villarreal
in
midweek.

And
he
believes
United
can
up
the
feel-good
factor
by
upsetting
the
odds
against
Chelsea.

Asked
what
stands
out
about
Thomas
Tuchel’s
Blues,
Carrick
replied:
“Hugely
impressed
by
how
they
go
about
things.

“Super
intense,
well
organised,
really
good
movement
across
our
backline
and
their
frontline.

“Very
good
at
connecting
with
the
midfield,
with
the
back
three
building
up
and
connecting
into
midfield,
narrowing
up
and
giving
you
problems
with
the
wing-backs.

“We
have
to
get
a
result
and
I
believe
we
can.”