Michael Carrick has told his Manchester United side to prepare for an awkward encounter at Bournemouth on Friday as the side look to maintain their challenge for a place in the UEFA Champions League.
The Red Devils have enjoyed a revival since former United and England midfielder Carrick was appointed interim boss until the end of the season in January.
United now sit third in the Premier League ahead of the trip to Bournemouth after recovering from their first defeat under Carrick, away to Newcastle, by beating top-four rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday.
However, Bournemouth sit 10th in the table and have made things difficult for United in recent seasons, with the remarkable 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in December extending their recent unbeaten run in this fixture.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola, tipped as a possible permanent manager of the Red Devils, has not lost in five previous games against United.
But such has been the club’s resurgence under Carrick, appointed following the two-match spell of former United team-mate Darren Fletcher following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, that the hierarchy at Old Trafford may well remain with the 44-year-old at the end of the current season.
“It’s a tough game,” Carrick said of Bournemouth, unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games.
«It’s a difficult place to go. They are in very good form, so yes, a difficult match,» he also told a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“We’re obviously going there, we’ve had a good run and the boys are in good form, but yeah, it’s always been a tough game. Always has been and probably always will be.”
«We know that. They are a very good team, well coached, very well coached and with a lot of energy. Lihat juga kshk. We know we will play a game there on Friday.»
United have won just two of their last seven away games, following a final 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.
READ ALSO | CAF president defends controversial call to strip Senegal of its AFCON 2025 title
But Carrick said: «Whether it’s home or away, it’s not something we look at too much. It’s basically the next game.»
He added: “It was nice to be able to win at home and put that in place, and to go into play at Old Trafford with a real sense of confidence and looking forward to the game and for the supporters to feel that too and leave with a good feeling.”
Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez remain sidelined on Friday, but the latter is expected to be available again when United return to action against Leeds on April 13.
The international break, the lack of European matches and an early exit from the FA Cup mean that United will have to wait an unusually long time, 24 days, for a match after the match against Bournemouth.
“You have to be very flexible, you know, to come out in good shape,” Carrick said.
“The boys will have a break one way or another but we are certainly taking it into account and it is a bit unique in some ways that we have the week after the internationals to prepare for the next game.”
Published on March 19, 2026
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/taylor-frankie-paul-kids-tout-051525-dff55e6510944ed5899db74e40e54ad4.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Los 3 hijos de Taylor Frankie Paul: todo sobre las «vidas secretas de las esposas mormonas», la hija de la estrella, Indy and Sons, Ocean and Ever")
