Exclusive; Norwich City v Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick reflects on time at helm as he aims to end milestone week on high.
Norwich City against Middlesbrough Middlesbrough and its manager, Michael Carrick, have had a week of significant achievements.
Carrick celebrated his 100th game as manager with a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United in midweek.
A day later, social media was awash with reminders it had been two years since Carrick’s appointment.
Those who observe from a distance may be pardoned for providing less than fair appraisals of Carrick’s reign.
A fourth-place finish followed by a failure to make the play-offs is not a sign of development on paper, but it lacks critical context.
Carrick, a Manchester United icon, has maintained a cool demeanor despite his squad’s tremendous changes.
He reflected on his two years at the Riverside in a cautious yet optimistic manner.
“I think it just evolves all the time,” he told me. “We’ve progressed in very much a favorable direction, with a few ups and downs and bumps, as you’d anticipate. Overall, I’m pleased with how things are going.
“In terms of the many aspects of the game that we’re attempting to develop and correct, I believe we’re doing well. The team’s makeup, how the lads are comprehending the game and attempting to apply what we’re asking, is probably the best we’ve had.”
Norwich have been astute operators in the Championship this season, and a trip to Carrow Road is perhaps no less frightening than a match against Sheffield United.
Carrick, predictably, has not continued the celebrations after Wednesday’s victory.
“I’ve got to be honest, we’ve moved on really quickly from it,” he joked. “We’ve got a really important and challenging game on Sunday, against a really good team again.”
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