Michael Carrick has given Manchester United their joy back

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At the time of Ruben Amorim’s shock sacking, Manchester United sat sixth in the table. There were signs of hope and progress, but also much in the way of disappointment and misalignment.

Since Carrick entered the frame at Old Trafford, the Red Devils have won four in a row, closing the gap on City in second to just three points.

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Across those four matches, meaningful changes have been made. They’ve switched to a 4-2-3-1 that becomes a well-drilled 4-4-2 in defense. Kobbie Mainoo’s been restored to midfield to better balance the star power around him. Bryan Mbeumo’s featured predominantly as a ‘9’.

And most importantly – United look like they’re having fun again.

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When Bruno Fernandes popped up at the back-post to shin Diogo Dalot’s cross into the back of the net, he ran straight to the substitutes. All those that have been on the fringes of the team since Carrick’s arrival.

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All of them celebrated joyously with him, and looked genuinely happy to be a part of the party.

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Joshua Zirkzee’s barely kicked a ball under Carrick. Leny Yoro’s seen just one-minute of first team action. These were some of the players banging the head of Fernandes and his teammates as they celebrated the game-winning goal.

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This has been a common theme across all of United’s matches under their new manager. They all appear to be enjoying their football.

Amidst much of the resolute organization and defensive stability, Carrick’s also given freedom to his best players to just do their thing.

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Matheus Cunha started the match as a ‘9’, but never really sat up top.

He roamed left to right as Bryan Mbeumo did the same, dragging Spurs’ centre-backs into uncomfortable areas and opening pockets of space for Fernandes and Diallo.

As they all found themselves attracted to the centre, they could play neat and tidy combinations in tight spaces against a chicken circling Tottenham defense that couldn’t keep their heads on straight.

As they persistently smashed the ball from distance or played these neat and tidy passes into the penalty area, they never got up in arms if it failed to come off. They celebrated every moment of brilliance the same as every wayward shot gone wide. They celebrated every poor pass as much as the flicks and tricks.

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They played for each other. With a hunger and desire to collectively win the football match with each and every connecting part harmonizing as one.

And so they should.

This is an eleven that can just about rival the very best teams in the league.

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Diogo Dalot has been understatedly good at right-back since the switch. Senne Lammens catches the ball for fun, which is something you couldn’t say about a United goalkeeper across the past decade.

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Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are always in the right place to snuff out danger.

Luke Shaw even enjoyed a role higher up the pitch against Spurs, strutting some of his best attacking stuff in years with license to push beyond the inside attackers in what was often a 3-2-5.

Kobbie Mainoo’s played with an air of relief on his shoulders. Sensibly playing forward passes with ease, evading pressure as though it was never there in the first place, and even playing his part in contributing to the goals with two assists in the four fixtures.

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This is a United team that are not only playing with simultaneous swagger and stability. But a team that is rooted in togetherness.

Even beyond the results, this is the most impressive thing that Carrick and his coaching team have done since coming into the fold at United. They’ve created a team that are incredibly organized and tough to beat, fluid and exciting on the attacking end, and together in everything they do.

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