Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday to take full control of the race for Champions League qualification.
Rant Sport writer Ruben Picardo Ashworth looks at Michael Carrick’s statements following United’s victory over Aston Villa.
Bruno Fernandes played a pivotal role, assisting Casemiro from a front-post corner and then Matheus Cunha with a superb line-breaking pass.
Ross Barkley – on his first Premier League start in 14 months – had levelled the scoreline just before Cunha found the far corner with a low strike.
Substitute Benjamin Sesko sealed the victory as his deflected effort looped past Emi Martinez, taking his tally to eight goals in 10 games.
Carrick speaks on Man Utd’s performance
When Michael Carrick took charge in January, they were 11 points behind their Midlands rivals. Two months on, they are now three points clear and favourites to clinch third place.
Talking on Sky Sports, Carrick was pleased with the performance.
“It feels good. It was a good performance in the main,” he said.
“We did a lot of things we were really happy with in the game and to finish it the way we did, we knew it was a big game coming into it and getting back to winning ways, the boys responded so well.
“I was quite happy with it at half-time, it was just a tight game. Sometimes you have to be a bit measured. The game opened up for us in the second half, and we had the players to make the difference.”
Carrick has his fifth home win and seventh overall in nine games.
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On Bruno Fernandes
Speaking about Captain Fernandes, he added: “He’s had so many big moments, to score or make a pass, and he’s always there. He always puts himself forward, whether it’s training or games.
“The pass to Matheus was fantastic.”
Fernandes’ assist for Cunha’s goal was his 100th in all competitions for the club, becoming the fourth player – after Ryan Giggs (249), Wayne Rooney (127), and David Beckham (115) – to achieve that in the Premier League era.
Villa have won just three of their last 12 league outings and were handed their third successive league defeat.
Unai Emery reflects on their loss
“In the last two months we are struggling more. We’re working on things on our structure,” said Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
“It was a bad result for us, we must accept it and analyse for the next challenges. We have to do more, to show more, more capacity to compete. Now the balance is very important. We must be stronger.
“I am so, so motivated to achieve our objectives.”
Manchester United are next in action at Bournemouth on Friday, March 20, whereas Aston Villa host Lille in their Europa League second leg tie on Thursday, March 19.
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