Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick faced the media ahead of his side’s upcoming clash with Aston Villa, with the Red Devils aiming to bounce back strongly at Old Trafford.

United will be looking for a fifth consecutive home victory under Carrick after enjoying a midweek break, while Villa come into the match following a demanding UEFA Europa League encounter against LOSC Lille.

Carrick has enjoyed an impressive start as interim manager, winning six of his first eight matches and guiding United into third place in the Premier League standings. With the season entering a crucial phase, the former midfielder will be hoping to secure UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

Carrick pleased with Rogers’ progress

Carrick also spoke about the development of Morgan Rogers, who has been in excellent form for Villa under manager Unai Emery and is pushing for a place in the England national football team squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

“It’s fantastic for me to see Morgan going on to do so well,” Carrick said. “He’s done it for a good period of time now. When he first made the move in January, I wasn’t really sure how it would go because it was a big step for him.

“He hadn’t played regularly for quite a while at Middlesbrough F.C., so naturally I felt he could maybe have done a bit more at that stage. But since joining Aston Villa he’s taken huge steps very quickly.

“He’s become a major part of their team and also the England setup. That shows just how well he’s done. I enjoy seeing him succeed. Of course, when we face him it’s a different story, but he’s a great person and was great to work with, so I’m delighted for him.”

Carrick embracing the challenge

United head into Sunday’s match looking to respond after a 2–1 defeat away to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on March 4. The loss was Carrick’s first since taking charge, giving the team more than 10 days to reflect and prepare for their next test.

When asked if facing Villa would be his toughest challenge so far, Carrick insisted he is relishing the opportunity and focused on how the team responds.

“It’s always about what comes next and how you react, whether you’ve won, drawn or lost,” he explained. “It’s about the group, the emotions around it, and how we channel that into the next game.

“I understand that because it was the first defeat it might feel a little different, but losses happen at some point. When you look at the league, it’s incredibly competitive and every team has gone through that recently.

“It’s about keeping things in perspective. We know where we can improve and what we can do better, but we also take a lot of confidence from what we’ve achieved as a group and the way we can play.

“It’s been a really good week in many ways. It’s an important game, there’s no getting away from that, and there’s an awful lot to play for. I’m fully embracing the situation and really looking forward to the next match.”