At a Glance
- Manchester United are second-best set-piece team
- Carrick credits Red Devils hero
- Why the tactic has been effective
Michael Carrick has revealed a surprising individual is the reason for Manchester United’s set-piece prowess during his tenure. This season, the Red Devils have the second-best set-piece record in the Premier League.
Manchester United have made it a habit of scoring from this method, only behind leaders Arsenal. In the recent 3-1 victory against Aston Villa, the hosts opened the scoring with a Casemiro header from a Bruno Fernandes corner.
This 2025/26 season, United have scored 15 goals from set pieces. But Carrick alone is not responsible for this success.
Since the change of coaching team in January, the Reds have secured 22 points from nine Premier League games. Additionally, they have scored in 18 consecutive games, which is the most since 2013.
Success story behind set-piece mastery
Ahead of the Bournemouth game, Carrick revealed there are many factors involved in making Manchester United a threat in set-plays. Moreover, to gain prominence during a campaign, one needs to practice enormously on the training ground.
While speaking to the club media, the manager said, “First of all, it’s probably more important than it’s ever been. It’s always been important, and I feel that it has a big impact in games, it feels like a lot more of them are going in.
He added:
“It’s good that we’ve had success with it. It’s a little bit on the coaching staff, certainly Jonny, with his ideas and how it works with the players. To work with them is important, what suits them, and what they like.
The boss highlighted the importance of key players in the box during corners:
“We’ve got certain players who are proven, really, in terms of Bruno’s delivery, Case and Harry [Maguire], in the way they attack the ball, as well as others.
“I think it’s important it’s a kind of mixed decision, if you like, and what works for everyone because they’ve got to do it.
Bruno Fernandes has been the heartbeat of the side this season. The Portuguese midfielder’s vision with the ball has helped distribute play and build attacks from one end to the other.
He added:
“Jonny works with that quite closely and we’ve had good success, so hopefully that continues.”
The 44-year-old acknowledged set-piece coach Johny Evans for improving Manchester United’s ability in dead-ball situations. He also appreciates the ex-player for adding a new trait to the team
The Evans and Carrick effect on Manchester United
Evans was immediately called upon to join Carrick’s coaching team in January. The Northern Irishman’s duty was to focus on the individual work of defenders and improving set-piece play. Before this, he was an assistant to Darren Fletcher during the youth coach’s brief spell as caretaker manager.
Last month, Bryan Mbeumo scored from a set-piece against Tottenham Hotspur, crediting the coach.
“It was the coach who wanted to practice this in training. We did it once, it didn’t work out, but this one was the most important,” said the striker.
When asked if it was Carrick or someone else, Mbeumo said: “It was Jonny Evans who was coming to me and the guys.”
The key strategies Evans infiltrated are the blocker technique, followed by targeted deliveries and intelligent movement/dummy runs. Approximately 27% of the 54 goals scored have come from set pieces. Manchester United is also the third-highest scoring team in the Premier League. Currently, the side sits in third place in the table, 7 points behind rivals Manchester City.
This impact shows that the coaching staff is given the freedom to experiment, with the manager at the helm. After the Friday night game at the Vitality, the side has a 24-day break from fixtures, giving players time for rehabilitation.
