Manchester United manager José Mourinho has told Michael Carrick that his time will come despite the club captain’s lack of game time so far.
The 36-year-old signed a one-year extension at Old Trafford in May, but has not played a single minute this season, as United’s positive start sees them top of the Premier League and their Champions League group.
When Mourinho was asked about Carrick’s role at United following the Reds’ 4-0 victory over Everton at the weekend, the Portuguese compared the veteran’s situation Ander Herrera, who has also had relatively limited playing time to start the season.
He also cited the good form of Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini, which he described as the ‘best of their lives’, and urged the likes of Carrick and Herrera to stay patient.
Mourinho said (per The Independent):
[Sergio] Romero played the Europa League final which was the game of the season for us and he’s not playing. Ander Herrera was the player of the season and he is not starting matches. That’s life in big clubs.
We gave [Carrick] a contract because we think he is a good player, we think he is an important player.
He is just in a team where, in this moment, Matic and Fellaini are in the best form that I’ve ever seen them. I never saw Matic playing so well, I’ve never saw Fellaini play so well.
He’s in a team with these two guys playing absolutely phenomenal so for Carrick and for Ander, it’s just patience. Their time will arrive and they’re going to be important players for sure. That’s the team, that’s the squad.
With Matic rested for the Carabao Cup third round tie against Championship side Burton Albion on Wednesday night, Carrick is in line to play for the first time this season and is expected to take the Serbian’s place in defensive midfield.
