MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Senne Lammens claims Michael Carrick has not done “many special things” to oversee the club’s remarkable turnaround.
United became the first team since Everton in February 2010 to beat the Premier League’s top two in consecutive games in Carrick’s first matches back in charge.
After beating Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford, United topped that with a 3-2 triumph at league leaders Arsenal for their first league win at the Emirates Stadium since December 2017.
The win has lifted United up to fourth and their supporters chanted “We’re gonna win the league” at full-time.
Lammens, who has started United’s last 18 games, revealed that Carrick has not overseen major upheaval since he replaced Ruben Amorim.
The Belgian said: “I’m gonna be honest, there are not many special things he did. It’s just like sticking to the basics.
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“Football is basics. If you do the basics well, then the quality of us comes out and I think we have players with the quality that can make the difference.
“But if you just do the basics right, technically we’re standing right, defending good together. And just [playing] as a team, to be honest.
“He made it really clear what he wants from us and what he expects from us. And I think today as well, on the pitch sometimes it didn’t really come out.
“But if you fight as a team and if you keep believing in it, then you can still get the win.”
Lammens was involved in memorable wins against City and Liverpool this season.
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United ended a drought that had strayed close to ten years to take three points at Anfield in October and Lammens admitted successes on the road are particularly special.
He added: “I think it was one of the better ones, better feelings of my career, to be honest. Away as well. Whilst last week [against City] was at home, which is also really nice and really special, this one felt like a little bit more hard work.
“It wasn’t always the best play from us, but they are also games you have to win if you want to be at the top. So today we did that.
“I think just hardworking, defending together, and then at the end, the subs like (Matheus) Cunha made a difference, and also, the people who come in give our team energy.
“I think winning at Anfield and winning at Arsenal is always one of the more special ones, especially for me in my first season as well.
“So it’s something I really look forward to – these big away games. And yeah, it’s really nice to win them both.”
United now have two successive home games against Fulham and Tottenham as they attempt to consolidate their status in the Champions League places.
Before the City success, United had won one of their previous six home games and Fulham have quietly risen to seventh in the table.
Carrick has repeatedly stressed that United will “not get carried away” and Lammens echoed the United head coach.
The 23-year-old admitted: “It wasn’t the prettiest game. But those were the most difficult ones.
“Last week was, I think, in every aspect, a good game. I think we play really well.
“Today was not always perfect, but like I said before, if you work hard as a team, you can always win.
“And now it’s up to us. We’re there, top four, to stay there and to even look above us.
“Those games against those top teams, you have to win, but now the coming weeks, when they expect more from us, when we are the favourite to win, then you also have to pull through and those are also really important games.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was milling around the dressing room area at the Emirates Stadium at full-time and spoke to Carrick.
Lammens appreciated the presence of the United board, saying: “It’s always a good feeling and good support for them.”
