Home » Article » Rotation For Michael Carrick – 3 Reasons Why This Legendary Box-To-Box Star’s Return Bodes Well For Manchester United

Rotation For Michael Carrick – 3 Reasons Why This Legendary Box-To-Box Star’s Return Bodes Well For Manchester United

Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrated his return to the starting XI by scoring Manchester Uniteds fourth

Sunday’s 4-0 trouncing of Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford in the FA Cup was one of the sweetest victories for Manchester United in recent times. While the performance displayed the progress that has been achieved in Jose Mourinho’s short tenure as the United boss, what was more pleasing for the United faithful, was the return of Bastian Schweinsteiger into the first team.

The 32-year old started his first game for United in 385 days and after looking rusty in the opening moments, he showed his class and stamped his authority on the game, finishing it with an excellent assist for the opener for United and an even more special goal in the dying moments of the game. When Schweinsteiger hit the back of the net from a well-manoeuvred bicycle-kick, the fans erupted in joy.

The legendary German had been deemed surplus by Jose after he took the reins at Old Trafford and was made to train with the youth team and with a personal trainer. But Schweinsteiger went about his business diligently, with great professionalism and that has seen Mourinho include him back into the first-team plans also adding that the German will be added to United’s Europa League squad. The Portuguese said:

“Yes, he’s staying, he’s going to the Europa League because we have opened spaces with [Memphis] Depay and [Morgan] Schneiderlin.

“If he was a good professional when he was not playing, having some minutes, some opportunities he is going to be the same good professional. With so many competitions, with so many matches that we have, he is an option.”

Here we give you three reasons why the return of Schweinsteiger is a great piece of news for United:

Additional Option Post Schneiderlin’s Exit

Manchester United were left short-handed in the middle of the park, having seen Morgan Schneiderlin depart earlier this month to join Everton.

In the current 4-1*4-1 setup that United play, three central midfielders take the field. Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera have established themselves as the preferred choice in the middle of the park, leaving Marouane Fellaini as the only alternative on the bench. Young midfielder Sean Goss was expected to make the step up to the senior squad, however, he too departed from Carrington, moving to Queens Park Rangers last week.

So, with Basti reinstated into the squad, Jose Mourinho will have more options to work with and it will come as a blessing with United still involved in as many as four competitions.

Rotation for Michael Carrick

Image result for michael carrick 2016-17

There has been a lot spoken about age catching up with Michael Carrick and how he cannot play week in week out for United. However, the former Tottenham midfielder has been a constant feature for the Red Devils in the recent past and has been excellent, controlling the game for Mourinho from the middle of the park.

However, with Schweinsteiger now involved again, Carrick can be used more sensibly and his workload can be better managed with the business end of the season fast approaching. The German showed he has still got it against Wigan as he ran the game from the midfield for United. He possesses the range of passing to get his teammates get going in the final third and despite losing his pace, he still showed immense desire in helping out defensively.

With a big run of crucial fixtures coming United’s way in February, Schweinsteiger’s return could not have come at a better time.

Immense Wealth of Experience

There is no questioning the brilliance of Schweinsteiger during his peak years. The midfielder dominated and won many a game with his class for Bayern Munich and Germany during his heydeys and was one of the finest footballers of the last decade.

The number of trophies he accumulated with Munich and Germany, the years of experience that he has gained being the engine room of the teams he played for, it will only benefit United immensely. There are few better examples than Carrick and Schweinsteiger for Paul Pogba to learn from.

His professionalism, his work ethic, despite being frozen out of the squad for so long gives an insight into the player’s character and this will only hold United in good stead as they chase success in Jose’s era.