Michael Carrick’s unbeaten streak as Manchester United boss remained intact on Monday night, but it required the manager to abandon his most stubborn tactical habit to secure the points against Everton.
For 45 minutes at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, United fans suffered through a sense of déjà vu. Despite dominating possession, the frontline looked “toothless” without a focal point a mirror image of the frustrating draw against West Ham just 13 days prior.
The “65-Minute Rule” Abandoned
Throughout his managerial career at Middlesbrough and now at Old Trafford, Carrick has been notoriously reluctant to pull the trigger on early substitutions. Typically, his tactical shifts wait until at least the 65th or 70th minute.
However, seeing his side struggle to break James Tarkowski and the Everton backline, Carrick did something rare: he blinked first.
Benjamin Sesko, who many felt should have started, began warming up just five minutes into the second half. By the 58th minute, Carrick officially broke his pattern, introducing the Slovenian striker to replace a “fluid” but ineffective striker-less system.
Simplicity Over Complexity: The Sesko Effect
Before the match, Carrick defended his flexible frontline, stating:
“The boys have different strengths… there’s huge flexibility and I don’t mind that across the frontline.”
But against Everton’s low block, “flexibility” looked more like “confusion.” Players were making identical runs, occupying the same spaces, and failing to stretch the defense.
The impact of Sesko was immediate:
- Tactical Clarity: With a natural Number 9 on the pitch, every other forward suddenly understood their role.
- Direct Threat: Sesko provided the “simplicity” United lacked, forcing Everton’s center-backs to drop deeper and opening space for Amad and Dalot.
- The Result: A game that looked destined for another 0-0 draw transformed into a decisive victory.
Better Than Amorim?
The victory highlights a growing narrative among the United faithful. While Ruben Amorim often struggled to adapt his rigid system when things went south, Carrick has shown a vital trait for a long-term United manager: the courage to adapt in-game.
Had Carrick waited until his usual 70-minute mark to introduce Sesko, United would likely be mulling over more dropped points. Instead, they leave with three points and a manager who is proving he can learn from his own mistakes.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
