Four changes Michael Carrick has made at Man Utd revealed by Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes has attributed Michael Carrick's success to four main changes - selecting different players, adjusting players' roles, employing an alternative formation, and Manchester United's renewed ability to find the back of the net. Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January following just 14 months at Old Trafford. Amorim presided over United's worst campaign in 51 years and endured defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final.

In the Premier League, Amorim recorded the poorest win percentage (32 per cent), the highest goals conceded per match ratio (1.53) and the lowest clean sheet percentage (15 per cent) of any United boss in the club's history. Carrick was named Amorim's replacement as interim head coach until the end of the campaign in mid-January. The former midfielder is now strongly positioned to secure the role permanently after steering United to third spot in the Premier League.

Kobbie Mainoo has been recalled to the starting XI and Carrick altered the side's formation, utilising Bryan Mbeumo centrally, which Fernandes cited among the factors behind the boss' success since his temporary appointment.

"Obviously, we have changed some things. He changed some players, changed some players' positions, has tried a different formation, and at the end of the day, we have started to score goals," he told Men in Blazers.

"We were creating a lot. In terms of creation and chances of goals, we were there at the top when Ruben was here, but we were not finishing that. And then we were probably one of the best teams at not allowing the opposition into our box, but we would concede more goals.

"We started to be more compact when we defend, and realised we have moments when we have to suffer because we were not in an excellent moment, let's say, so I think that sacrifice we made in the first few games... I wouldn't say we were lucky, but it was good for us to have two big games straight away.

"Because if you win against City and then win against Arsenal at the Emirates, then we think it's going to be fine, we're playing good football now and we're going to win. I think City was the game when we played the best. Against Arsenal, we made the most of it and found a way to win.

"Sometimes big clubs have to find a way to win games. Whether it's pretty or not, you have to find a way to get results."

Fernandes bestowed upon Carrick the highest possible praise by naming him as the former United player he would most like to have lined up alongside. "I would not pick Rooney because I would be on the bench," he said.

"It's going to sound strange, but Michael Carrick. I've trained with him when he was here under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sometimes he was training with us as a No.6, playing the ball between the lines, and he was great.

"As a No.10 you want those passes to you as quickly as possible, and he was incredible at timing the passes. Sometimes it's not about having the ball for long but playing it to your team-mate as quickly as possible. He was great at that and, for me, having someone behind like that, it's perfect."