Michael Carrick: Manchester United manager trusts Kobe Maino and his pride in the academy

sign: With the three staff you brought in – Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans – how do you work as a four? Because there was so much interest in the people I brought…

Michael: There’s Travis too – Travis Bennion, who’s been here for several years through the academy. and Craig Mawson – goalkeeping coach. There’s a really strong group and it feels like we’ve been together for a long time, but we just didn’t know each other. I didn’t know Steve personally very much. I thought things would be good and balanced and there’s a reason why I wanted to bring Steve.

Jonathan… I had him at Middlesbrough – loyal, understanding me, knowing me, pushing me, challenging me… a really good relationship. Johnny knew the club. He’s been here a long time and he has a really good relationship with the players as well… he loves coaching, he loves helping, he cares a lot. And then with Travis, the club needs the academy. He’s a big part of this football club.

I think there’s a really good balance between the responsibility of the academy and the young players and then Jonathan and Jonny – being some of the best centre-backs you can come across in the last 20 to 25 years – to pass on their information.

Steve – With his experience in so many ways… Chelsea, with the change of coaches and different styles of managers and senior players, and England. All employees are able to adapt to the surrounding environment, and I think this is very important.

sign: And they challenge you? They tell you when you’re wrong?

Michael: Absolutely, yes.

sign: Not every manager will accept this.

Michael: I can’t be right all the time – it’s impossible. That’s why we have a group of six people in our office. We all have strong opinions, but I think we all filter them and it’s important to have a connection and understanding of the direction we want to go. We have to push each other, for sure.

sign: You mentioned the academy. What does the academy mean to you?

Michael: Huge number. Listen, I’ve always kept that feeling of what it was like when I was a young player. It’s something I’ve always had my eye on and been passionate about. With the tradition of this football club, it is only natural that we will continue it. It’s as proud a moment as any to give a young player his debut and there is definitely a desire – not just from me but from all the staff and everyone at the club – to try to produce young players and give them as many opportunities as possible.

sign: The United academy player has always been in the squad for first-team matches since 1930, hasn’t he? Is this a feeling of pride? How far can a simple millstone become if you are the one who breaks it?

Michael: I think there is a huge sense of pride on behalf of the whole football club. It’s really nice to have such a long period of time and it’s something we need to hold on to. That is what this football club was truly built on, and has been for many decades. So, yeah, I’m definitely aware of it and we want to continue with it.

sign: When you watch the academy and you watch the junior teams as well… is there a pipeline – and I’m not putting any pressure on them – but is the academy healthy?

Michael: Yes, I think he’s in good hands. I think it was. I think historically it’s continued to produce players year after year. We’re always hoping for the next group or individual. There is a lot of good work that goes into the academy.

Sometimes we get caught up in football and results. Where we are now, the wins, draws and losses matter in some ways. But it is about developing young people and their behaviors and helping them. There are a lot of players at this club who may not have made their debut here, but have gone on and had an unbelievable career in the game. And I think that’s something that, again, we’re really proud of as a football club.

sign: So, following up on the academy chat, there’s been a lot of hype about Kobbie Mainoo this season… and he wasn’t shown, and now he’s showing up under you all the time. What did you see when you first started working with him? Mentally, how was he doing and how did he get to where he is now?

Michael: I’ve known Kobe for a long time. I started working with him when I think he was 13 or 14, when I started getting my coaching badges – a few years ago. Just small parts. And then, obviously, when I was here the first time, he was around a little bit.

So I think knowing him and having experience with him and seeing him perform at this level on such big occasions… I’ve talked before about the coaches being able to adapt to being here and being at the right level to deal with him. What Kobe did at such a young age is truly incredible.

Forget how young he still is. I was a big fan of watching him play and seeing what he could do. So it wasn’t really a big decision to play him. To be fair, it’s not easy when you’re not playing to find your rhythm and find your level.

There are things he can get better at, things he can improve on, but we haven’t really started on any of that because we’re just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again. I’ve been really conscious of not giving it too much – a few little pointers, a little bit of topical stuff and some little bits here and there – but trusting what it is. He is a great footballer and has great talent.

sign: It seems, in many ways, that you’re relying on the human side of things rather than – I don’t mean this in a disparaging way – rather than the template chart.

Michael: I love being around people. I like to share things. I’m not someone who can be an individual per se, and I don’t promote the fact that I’ve got all the answers. I’m very happy to discuss that. I believe in getting the best out of people – whether it’s in the television industry or in the sports industry or business… I believe in treating people with respect. I think whatever it is, the technical side and the tactical side, we can get better at all of that, but if you don’t have that connection and that buy-in and the desire to come with you and follow you, then all the other parts lose their value and you won’t be able to achieve all that potential. So I find that having that connection with people is huge and huge.

sign: Do you yell at them?

Michael: I haven’t done that yet, no. There’s a time for all kinds of emotions, and that’s the beauty of being in that situation – you have to pick the right time and hit the right kinds of buttons to get the right reactions.

sign: When I saw the hair dryer [which Sir Alex Ferguson’s fiery outbursts became known as] Were you like: “Crikey”?

Michael: Yeah, I’m not sure I can replicate that! I won’t try it! You’ve seen it a few times as he puts you in the back of your seat, trying to get away from him. But, again, you’re talking about Sir Alex and he was a genius at using people and getting the best out of them in so many different ways – supporting and pushing, a little bit stronger than pushing sometimes – but he succeeded. It was all about getting the best out of his players.