Michael Carrick prasies 'more dynamic' Manchester United after improved performance

Never mind half full, the glass is filling again at Manchester United. Those who didn’t start on Tuesday night against CSKA Moscow eased through a session at Carrington yesterday, watched by Louis van Gaal, who was noticeably relaxed when introduced to a group of sponsors’ guests at the training ground.

And why not? The 1-0 victory over CSKA leaves United top of Group B and one win from qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League. The margin of victory was narrow, and the goal Wayne Rooney scored was United’s first since Anthony Martial pierced the same defence, 404 playing minutes previously.

Those details appear less significant when set against the relative strength of United’s position in Europe, and in the Premier League where they sit fourth, four points behind Manchester City and Arsenal. Hardly terminal.

The next engagement against West Bromwich Albion is the first of a series of Premier League fixtures that offer at least a notional opportunity to build on the upswing in mood around Old Trafford. We are not yet at the cavalier stage but, as Michael Carrick reminds us, there is sufficient unity of purpose and optimism to lift the siege of negativity.

“I don’t think we have had such a bad start,” Carrick said. “We have had a couple of setbacks that have knocked us a little but overall it’s not been too bad. This week a lot has been made of us not scoring goals but now we have scored and won.”

There was a defence, too, of Van Gaal’s obsession with ball retention. “I think there is an awful lot made of tactics these days. Different managers have different systems and the way they set the teams up. That’s just the nature of the game.

“Obviously our game is based on dominating teams with possession. But at the end of the day you have to score. So there are things as a team that we do differently but to me that’s just obvious when you have a new manager and he has different beliefs.

“I don’t think it’s more conservative. I thought tonight was more dynamic and aggressive in terms of attacking and getting forward quickly and getting crosses in the box. If you win 1-0 then the tactics don’t get discussed that much. That’s the way of things, fine lines.

“It’s about winning. Of course we want to play exciting football and score loads of goals but it’s not always easy when players are coming and putting 10 behind the ball. What do you do? Throw it in the box and hope, or do you play football and try and pass it and break them down?”

Crowd chants of “attack, attack, attack” were more a call to action than an expression of the dissent that surfaced at Selhurst Park on Saturday, though Van Gaal acknowledged the boos that accompanied the removal of Martial. “I’m not deaf,” he said.

Neither is Carrick, nor is he discomfited by the criticisms of others, including his former team-mate Paul Scholes, who, to be fair, stood back from the pessimism of recent days with a more upbeat appraisal.

“There are so many opinions out there,” said Carrick. “If you start worrying about what people are saying then you are in trouble. There is nothing wrong with those comments. If you accept the pats on the back then you have to accept the criticism.

“For me, what he said doesn’t bother me. I have respect for Scholesy and that isn’t going to change. It’s our job to play. That’s why we are at this great club. If you can’t handle it or you don’t want it then go and play somewhere else.”