MICHAEL CARRICK has hailed Manchester United’s new secret weapon.
The interim boss gave a shoutout to his backroom team members after another set-piece goal in the win over Tottenham.
The hosts took the lead from a corner that was worked between Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Bryan Mbuemo, with the latter slotting home the opener at Old Trafford.
It was a goal from the training ground that was executed to perfection and helped United to a fourth successive league win under Carrick.
Speaking post-match, he namechecked both Jonny Evans and Kaita Hasegawa for their roles in the piece of quality.
Carrick said: “Yeah Jonny [Evans] has had his eyes on set plays and Kaita [Hasegawa], the analyst.
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“It is great when things come off, we obviously all have different ideas but the lads have carried it off great.
“Bruno, Kobbie and Bryan put it away so I am delighted with that.”
Evans will be a household name to football fans, but who is the unsung hero quietly going behind his work with huge success?
Well, Hasegawa joined the Red Devils as a first team performance analyst in November 2022 after nearly eight years at Everton.
He’s playing a behind the scenes role as United enjoy big success from set-pieces.
Fernandes added United’s second goal with less than 10 minutes to play to make sure of the points.
He’s enjoying life under Carrick and his staff but his message to his Old Trafford colleagues is clear: “We need to make it five now.”
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: “When we win games the confidence goes higher and higher.
“It is very important for us to maintain the focus and not overdo it now.
“This is very good and very nice but we need to keep going.
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“If you don’t win the next one and the next one you will get back into the same place where you don’t feel comfortable, you lose confidence and struggle to believe in everything you have been doing until now.
“But, we have been doing very well until now to do everything that Michael and the staff have been asking of us and we have been very brave taking responsibility in some moments in the game to go and play and do whatever you need to do to win the game.
“The main focus is the next game, it’s four wins in a row, this one is nice, but we need to make it five now.”
United are back in action on Tuesday night as they face West Ham on the road as they bid to continue their winning run of form.
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