Michael Carrick has shattered another Ruben Amorim record and he’s only been in charge of Manchester United for FOUR matches
Michael Carrick Achieves Greater Team Selection Stability Than Ruben Amorim Despite Brief Manchester United Tenure
Michael Carrick’s impressive beginning as Manchester United’s caretaker manager continues attracting attention, with the former club player establishing a new benchmark that surpasses one previously set by Ruben Amorim, even though he’s overseen only four fixtures.
Ruben Amorim’s period at the helm, which concluded recently following a challenging stint culminating in a 1-1 stalemate with Leeds United, featured constant alterations to his team selection.
Amorim found it difficult to establish a reliable formation, implementing modifications in nearly every league encounter throughout his managerial stint.
After Amorim’s exit, Darren Fletcher temporarily assumed control for two games before Carrick received the appointment to guide the squad through the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
Since Carrick took charge, Manchester United has enjoyed an exceptional period of results, securing wins against formidable opposition such as Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham.
This revival has breathed new life into their league season, with the team now accumulating 44 points—trailing Aston Villa by two and Manchester City by three.
Saturday’s league encounter with Tottenham Hotspur at home further showcased Carrick’s successful leadership.
The contest’s dynamics shifted significantly when Tottenham’s Cristian Romero was dismissed in the 29th minute following a dangerous challenge on Casemiro, leaving Spurs with ten players.
United exploited their numerical superiority, opening the scoring in the 38th minute via Bryan Mbeumo.
After halftime, captain Bruno Fernandes confirmed a 2-0 result with an accurate strike, maintaining the team’s positive trajectory under Carrick’s direction.
Carrick’s strategic philosophy has emphasized maintaining stability and unity. The Sun reports he deployed an identical starting eleven against Tottenham as he had in the exciting 3-2 triumph over Fulham.
This decision paralleled his earlier selections against Manchester City and Arsenal, where he similarly maintained unchanged teams.
The single modification Carrick has implemented across his opening four matches involved bringing in Matheus Cunha for the unavailable Patrick Dorgu.
This degree of continuity has now exceeded a benchmark from Amorim’s reign. Whereas Carrick has retained unchanged starting lineups twice within just four fixtures, Amorim accomplished this only once throughout 47 league matches.
Amorim’s solitary instance of keeping his team unchanged occurred between matches against Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion—producing inconsistent outcomes, with a 4-2 success against Brighton but a 2-2 stalemate with Forest.
Carrick’s capacity to sustain a consistent starting eleven reveals his trust in his players while underscoring the sharp difference between his approach and that of the previous manager.
Through emphasizing steadiness and team harmony, Carrick has established conditions for quick results, generating confidence among both squad members and supporters while simultaneously establishing new standards.
