Bruno Fernandes hails 'great manager' Michael Carrick as Owen Hargreaves says captain is 'best player by a country mile' after Manchester United win

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes told TNT Sports that interim boss Michael Carrick could become a "great manager" after The Red Devils beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to make it four wins in four. Former midfielder Owen Hargreaves was full of praise for Fernandes, declaring him the best player "by a country mile". Watch West Ham United v Manchester United live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'It is finished off superbly' - Lethal Mbeumo puts Man Utd ahead

Video credit: TNT Sports

Bruno Fernandes believes Michael Carrick could be a "great manager" after Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Man Utd beat 10-man Spurs at Old Trafford for their fourth consecutive win under their interim head coach, who replaced Ruben Amorim last month.

They will have an opportunity to make it five on the bounce on Tuesday evening, when they travel to West Ham United, live on on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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Fernandes scored late in the second half against Spurs to cement the victory, following Bryan Mbeumo’s opener in the first period.

Carrick has guided the club into the UEFA Champions League spots with impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, a dramatic late victory against Fulham, and now a 2-0 win against Thomas Frank’s men, who lost captain Cristian Romero to a red card after a wild challenge on Casemiro in the first half.

Man Utd moved within two points of third-place Aston Villa with the win, although games are still to be played this weekend.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the win, Fernandes admitted Man Utd had not been at their best, but suggested that winning creates its own momentum, and that there had been a shift under Carrick after he came in.

Fernandes wraps up Man Utd win over Spurs with 'top finish'

Video credit: TNT Sports

"We’ve had moments when we weren't great, and it was still like this," Fernandes said.

"When we win games, everything looks brighter. This is football. Football changes from one game to another."

The Portuguese midfielder was asked what the new coach had brought to the setup, and Fernandes suggested that he had given Carrick some guidance when he was caretaker boss of United in 2021, and predicted a bright future for him.

"I think Michael came in with the right idea of giving the players the freedom to take responsibility on the pitch to do the decisions that were needed," Fernandes said.

"I think he remembers what I told him the last time he was manager. I think Michael could be a great manager, and he’s just shown it.

"We hope we can help him even more, so everyone can see we are good players. That’s why we are at Man Utd.

"I think everyone understands the pressure of playing for this club. Everyone knows the expectations around it.

"Michael has won everything here, he knows what it means for these fans and how much is needed to win at this football club."

'Bruno the best by a country mile' - Hargreaves

TNT Sports pundit and former Man Utd midfielder Owen Hargreaves praised Fernandes’ attacking intent, and the change to a midfield three as opposed to just two, an approach Amorim had used.

"He plays with risk, but it’s risk that the team benefits from," he said.

"We said before, under Ruben, that midfield two was the weakness. But that midfield three is really, really good and Bruno is the best player by a country mile.

"They look so much stronger as a midfield three."

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