“Lucky” Amad describes exactly how life is like under Michael Carrick

Manchester United winger Amad says he feels “so lucky” to be working under interim boss Michael Carrick and believes the former midfielder’s deep connection to the club is already transforming the squad’s mentality.

Carrick, appointed in December after the departure of Ruben Amorim, has overseen five Premier League fixtures, collecting four wins and a draw. The sequence includes statement victories against Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, results that have fuelled talk that the 43-year-old could yet stake a permanent claim to the dug-out if United push into the Champions League places.

Amad, 22, has started every match of the Carrick era and credits the temporary manager with re-energising both the dressing room and the terraces.

“I think having Michael Carrick as head coach in the team is very important because he knows the club,” the Ivorian told club media. “He’s the main man who can tell us about the club we are playing for.”

The youngster revealed Carrick’s pre-match message is simple but powerful: players are reminded they represent not only themselves but also the supporters. “He keeps telling us: you guys, you are playing for yourself, but you’re playing also for the fans, and he’s telling us the fans are very important for us,” Amad explained. “We want to give them something back.”

Training has become “very enjoyable” under Carrick’s watch, according to Amad, who first met the Englishman when he arrived at Old Trafford as an 18-year-old. “I’m so lucky because I know him already,” he said. “I also played against him when he was in the Championship, so I know him from a long time and he’s a nice guy.”

The interim set-up also features familiar faces in Jonny Evans, Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland, a factor Amad believes is crucial. “It’s very important as a player to have people around who know the club, who know exactly what this club means for them,” he stressed. “They keep telling us what it really means, so that is very important. When we go to the pitch we want to fight for them.”

United’s next assignment comes on Monday, 23 February, when they travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Everton, aiming to extend an unbeaten run that has rekindled belief around the red half of Manchester.