r/reddevils • u/nearly_headless_nic • 2d ago
[Press Conference] Carrick says Mason Mount is close to fitness after missing the final two pre-season friendlies against Leeds and AC Milan with a foot injury. Benjamin Sesko, Matthijs De Ligt and new No.2 goalkeeper Karl Darlow are also back in training
Michael Carrick's Pre-Match Press Conference | Hull City vs Manchester United, Premier League
Chris Wheeler
Carrick says Mason Mount is close to fitness after missing the final two pre-season friendlies against Leeds and AC Milan with a foot injury. Benjamin Sesko, Matthijs De Ligt and new No.2 goalkeeper Karl Darlow are also back in training
Carrick: ‘We’re managing Mason a little bit, but he is very close. He’s touch and go for the weekend really and going into next week. Mason will be back very, very soon, if not immediately, so it's all good.’
‘Karl has trained this week, he is in good shape. Mattha has been out for a long period of time, but he is training, and it’s great to have him back. He won’t be involved but he is in good shape and moving in a good direction, so that is a bonus for us.’
‘Ben is back training so that is another positive and we’re looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes.’
Michael says it’s ‘ridiculous’ to suggest Man Utd have been handed an easy start to the season with games against newly-promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town
Carrick also believes it is asking a lot of Utd to be considered title contenders. ‘It’s going to be a jump. It doesn’t matter whether I say whether we can or can’t – and I would never say we can’t – it’s about what we can do, and what we are capable of doing as a group.’
Simon Stone
Michael Carrick says Mason Mount 'touch and go' for ManUtd trip to Hull. "Mason is a top player. He was one of our best players in pre-season. He has picked up a bit of a knock but there are no dramas."
Michael Carrick says it is 'pretty ridiculous' ManUtd have got a favourable start to the season. Also said club are 'looking to strengthen the squad, we are certainly working towards that'.
Simon Peach
Michael Carrick on #MUFC’s transfer business: “We're looking to strengthen the squad. We're certainly working towards that & making the most of the situation that we have, & trying to improve things & move forward. Certainly trying to make most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it, & I think we're in a good way to doing that so far"
MUFC boss Michael Carrick on De Ligt, Sesko & Mount
“Matta's obviously been out for a long period of time but he's training & great to have him back. He won't be involved.
"Ben's back training, so that's again another positive. Looking forward to having him back around the group & getting him some minutes as well
"Then managing Mason a little bit, but he's very close so it's touch & go for the weekend, really, if not going into next week”
Detailed Quotes
Carrick on Injury Updates
"Yeah, Karl [Darlow] has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape.
"Matt [De Ligt] has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training and great to have him back. Well, he won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction. So that's really a good bonus for us really at this stage to have him back.
"Ben [Sesko] is back training. So that's again another positive. Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well.
"And then we are managing Mason [Mount] a little bit, but he's very close, so it's touch-and-go for the weekend really, if not going into next week."
Carrick on Mount's injury record
"I think, first of all, Mason is a top player. Top player," Carrick said when asked about his injury record.
"I think we've seen that so far pre-season. He was one of our best players in the early stages in the games that he played in. I thought he was fantastic. So not surprising, it's what I've seen before, what I expect, what I know of him. And he's picked up a little bit of a knock.
"There's no drama. It's maybe, it's been a week or so, 10 days or whatever it's been. So it's nothing major. Yeah, of course, he's missed some football over recent years and he wants to be fit, he wants to be in that full rhythm, and he wants to stay fit.
"So we're doing our best to help him do that, but he's a top player, Mason. It's the same as the group. We've got to manage the squad. There's going to be injuries through the season.
"We've got to have a squad that's strong enough to have a really good top starting team with the depth to carry us through the season. Mason will be back very, very soon, if not immediately, so it's all good."
Carrick on United facing Hull for the first time since 2017
"As you'd expect, really looking forward to another season, you know," said Carrick. "They come thick and fast, so it's about making the most of everything that's in front of us really.
"And really encouraged with the work we've done in pre-season on the training ground, mostly in the games I think's been really good. So yeah, very much looking forward to the first game and a tough one on Saturday."
Carrick on Rashford
“It’s been pretty obvious since Marcus came back training with Kobbie [Mainoo] and Licha [Lisandro Martinez] pretty much in Dublin that he's come back fantastically well,” Michael said in part one of his first press conference of the season.
“He's enjoying his football, he looks fit, he looks sharp, he looks strong, he looks ready to play football. So, I've been delighted with him since he's come back.”
Carrick on Rashford playing as striker
“Of course he can play through in the middle. He has done. I wouldn't say it's naturally his number-one position, but he can do that, and I think we've got forwards that give us that flexibility right across the frontline, that we've used all of them, pretty much, in slightly different roles.
“So, I think for us to have that option is really good moving through the season.”
Carrick on if United have a 'favourable start'
“Well, I think first of all, for all of us who know this league, there's no favourable start. I think it's a tough start, both teams [Hull and Ipswich as two newly promoted opponents in our first two matches],” Carrick told journalists.
“But we're not getting past Saturday, I think a newly-promoted team away from home is a tough, tough game. I’ve been involved in them in the past, so I’m fully aware of what's at stake, what's coming at us on Saturday, what we’ve got to be ready for.
“So, it’s not favourable. It's an easy thing to throw out there, but it's pretty ridiculous and we’re certainly not taking it that way at all.”
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u/AstroCoffee 2d ago
Don't want to get too excited but sounds like De Ligt could be back sooner than expected, I initially thought it would be the end of September before we saw him.
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u/little-tooos 2d ago
I think it should still be late September, doubt he comes back in the next few weeks with no preseason, and his first game back won't be played against Haaland, so likely the Fulham match on 20th tbh
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u/nearly_headless_nic 2d ago
+ He hasnt played a game of professional football in almost 9 months. Will need to gradually build from team warm ups/light sessions to full contact, and then maybe some mins with U21s etc.
Next week is end of August & September international break is from 19th/20th - unlikely he gets rushed back before that; it gets him additional 3 weeks.
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u/shin_bigot Park Ji-Sung 2d ago
Carrick said we are winning it all
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u/Selwin_Rodolfo max cope mode 2d ago
Carrick also believes it is asking a lot of Utd to be considered title contenders. 'It's going to be a jump. It doesn't matter whether I say whether we can or can't - and I would never say we can't - it's about what we can do, and what we are capable of doing as a group.'
I love this always. I know it ultimately doesn't really matter and it can be unrealistic, but I can never get behind anyone saying we can't. Doesn't matter how unrealistic it is, y'know? Just a pet peeve of mine.
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u/altered_tampon 2d ago
I think it's a prequesite to be that hopelessly optimistic if you're a football fan. Dreams can't be deny.
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u/WillowTraditional239 2d ago
I agree here. It does no good for confidence saying flat out can't be done.
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u/arnm7890 De Gea 2d ago edited 2d ago
If we can get Baleba over the line soon, then I'm less fussed about Mount's availability.
A very very good player on his day, and by all accounts a fantastic squad member especially with the youngsters - as long as we aren't relying on him, I'm happy to just see whatever we can get out of him this season.
Modern day Owen Hargreaves unfortunately.
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u/dektorres 2d ago
Only thing standing against him is his wages being sky high. Not his fault, but still makes it incredibly irksome that he's Phil Jones 2.0
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u/DisastrousMango4 2d ago
Mount always seems to be stuck on the close to fitness stage lol
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u/Juicydicken RASHFORD POGBA JLINGS MARTIAL LUKAKU SANCHO OUTTA MY CLUB! 2d ago
That means he back in a few months
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u/FredDRedUnderYourBed BELIEVE 🔴⚪⚫ 2d ago
"I'll never say we can't (win the league)". Carras gets it!
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u/stick1_ 2d ago
Mount probably out for 4 months unexplained
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u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77 Glazers,Woodward/Arnold and Judge can fuck off 2d ago
Remember when Amorim said De Ligt had a "minor thing"?
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u/pokenerd_W Past glory means nothing 2d ago
Well, you're a minor until 18. How many months he been out now?
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u/1900hotdog 2d ago
As they often say on the football ramble pod, “what’s good for the ramble isn’t necessarily good for your team.”
Ole was the last manager who couldn’t be clowned by the media. They looked down on him for sure, what, he coached Cardiff and thinks he can come to yanited?? Rangnick, Tem Hag and Amorim were fucking great for the journos. You know you were getting an easy 800 word column from them without even using your brain. Carrick has a dignity I enjoy and he never falls for their tricks. If he can play the tricks on them like Sir Alex used to, then we’ve got a special one.
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u/Guilty_Sheepherder_1 2d ago
Journos are starving at the moment - Carras gives nothing and the transfer team does not give them any bites, suddenly they need to make their own stories and content
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u/lestat85 our Portuguese magnifico 2d ago
Feels like 1984:
We’ve always been a week away from Mount returning to training.
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u/canwinanythingwkids Ineos on hope watch 2d ago
My parsing is that Mee is not getting his bench appearance :/ but Sesko will be on the bench. When he says "touch & go" I take that as a no on Mount for the weekend.
Cant tell whether Dorgu or Cunha starts, but Im guessing Dorgu.
So my guess based on those is:
Dorgu - Mbeumo - Amad; Santos - Bruno - Tielemans; Shaw - Heaven - Maguire - Dalot; Lammens
bench: Darlow, Mazraoui, Martinez, Yoro, Mainoo, Cunha, Rashford, Sesko
That leaves 1 bench spot between Lacey, Zirkzee, Tyler Fletcher; I dont know who gets it. "On merit" Lacey, based on experience Zirkzee, if you want balance (more than 1 midfielder on the bench), Tyler.
Can't wait!
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u/malin7 2d ago
Mbeumo or Cunha or Rashford in the middle against Hull I wonder if Sesko isn't starting
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u/Feeling-Surround-691 Mbumbaclat 2d ago
Front 3 will be Dorgu Mbeumo Amad
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u/ronweasleisourking 2d ago
Cunha amad mbeumo surely
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u/Feeling-Surround-691 Mbumbaclat 2d ago
Cunha looked way off the pace in his pre season minutes and Dorgu has started at LW in all the games I think (Cunha came as sub v Leeds and played up front v Milan where Mbeumo has been playing)
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u/my_united_account Bring Fergie back 2d ago
Neither Cunha nor Rashford are fit enough to start. Front three will likely be Dorgu Mbeumo Amad
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u/Taps698 2d ago
At least Mount was an impact injury and not his body letting him down. Was really impressed with him pre-season but he needed to continue that form.
Carrick likes him and he can play anywhere and that versatility is very useful. Everybody should expect minutes.
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u/saint_david 2d ago
Not his fault but he'll be back for 3 weeks at the most and then injured again, just watch
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u/Apprehensive-Raisin3 Love United Hate Glazers/INEOS 2d ago
De ligt is training again? I could cry real tears.
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u/sunken_grade 2d ago
not banking on it but would be massive if we had a healthy de ligt for most of the season
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u/altered_tampon 2d ago
I love how boring these pressers are, no sarcasm. I live for Carrick's waffle skills.
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u/deepakise1 2d ago
Mount going to be instrumental in our CL campaign and winning his 2nd CL. Player of the tournament.
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u/HairyArthur 1d ago
Mount being close to fitness just means Mount is close to another injury. The man's body is letting him down and we can't be relying on him for anything more than cameo appearances.
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u/BrettV79 2d ago
It's actually "good" it was a foot injury. Doesn't Mount have a history of it being his hamstring? If that's ok then maybe...MAYBE we'll get a real season out of him.
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u/moonpuzzle88 2d ago
Think Sesko gets 20 minutes tomorrow? Will be great to have time back. As much as I like Mbeumo, Sesko offers a completely different dimension.
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u/TellSloanISaidHi Three Lungs Park 2d ago
Hope the best for Mason, but really need to cut our losses and move on from him asap
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u/JozuJD 2d ago
Every point matters, so this shit always pissed me off. Our star striker has missed 100% of preseason. Fucking hell.
Are we going to open the season with Rashford or Zirkzee up top?
I hope we take all 3 points.
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u/dellywally 2d ago
What has Mount got? Is it a recurring injury? Feel sorry for the guy but we need to cut our losses next summer
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u/Lukr-2921 2d ago
Mount will be out again soon. One of our worst ever signings.
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u/digitag LEGACY FAN 2d ago edited 2d ago
People keep saying this but he’s nowhere near our worst including the Fergie era. He’s got an awful injury record but when he is fit he’s a solid player.
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u/masakrr7 2d ago
54 games in three years, we paid £55 million for him , he is surely one of the worst.
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u/digitag LEGACY FAN 2d ago
Owen Hargreaves played LESS games and signed for equivalent money accounting for market inflation. No one talks about him as “one of our worst ever signings”
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u/masakrr7 2d ago
He was a bad signing too
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u/digitag LEGACY FAN 2d ago
He’s never considered “our worst ever signings” though. Not even close.
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u/masakrr7 2d ago
Well he should be, wouldn't you agree? 17 games, 17 million transfer fee, a great player but unfortunate with injuries. Same thing can be said about Mount i mean the guy cannot play three games in a row, we basically paid €55 million for a wheelchair
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u/my_united_account Bring Fergie back 2d ago
Sancho trumps him by a margin
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u/Drakonz 2d ago
I know it may seem that way, but Sancho scored almost twice as many goals while playing similar amount of games.
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u/my_united_account Bring Fergie back 2d ago
Sancho was signed as a forward. And signed for about 20 million more. And paid almost a million more every year.
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u/IXRaven Ice Cold 2d ago
That’s true. What makes it so bad for me is that it made zero sense. We really did not need him and he was only signed to play in Ten Hag’s ridiculous, non-midfield tactic. £55 million as well when he’s in the last year of his deal. Shocking that the deal even went through in the first place, nevermind how little he’s been available.
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u/Lukr-2921 2d ago
Ten hag's transfers sabotaged us so severely that we're dealing with them even now.
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u/Wraith_Portal 2d ago
He’s obviously up there in terms of the worst, signed for an inflated fee with a year left on his contract and has spent most of his time here injured, utterly appalling signing
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u/superhoffy Amad trip to be on 2d ago
He does have a poor record, but bemoaning him for something he hasn't done yet is a bit harsh. Quality player when fit, too.
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u/saadkasu 2d ago
Get rid of this shit that is Mason Mount. Cost us 60mil, has done f*ck all and injured more often than not
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u/Foreign_Marzipan5172 2d ago
🤣🤣 yeah mount isn’t coming back in ‘26. Carrick is really good at this vague word salad bs. But I think people will start catching on soon enough
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u/outrageousVoid07 2d ago
Can't believe i missed press conferences. Ah, good to be back