Michael Carrick has wasted no time introducing a new rule at Manchester United after Ruben Amorim banned three things at Old Trafford
09:54, 20 Jan 2026Updated 09:54, 20 Jan 2026
Manchester United’s interim manager Michael Carrick has implemented a new rule already(Image: Getty Images)
Michael Carrick has already introduced a one change at Manchester United after his predecessor Ruben Amorim ‘banned’ three things before his sacking.
Old Trafford legend Carrick took over from caretaker manager Darren Fletcher last week, stepping in as United’s interim boss until the end of the season.
It came after Amorim was dismissed from his position as head coach 14 months into his tenure, having struggled to effectively implement his tactical philosophy and reportedly clashed with United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, over transfers.
In his first match at the helm, Carrick guided the Red Devils to an impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester City, with the team’s performance echoing the glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson. After just three days of training under their new manager, United seemed transformed, defending valiantly and using wing-play to devastating effect.
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This marked shift could be down to a new rule Carrick quickly implemented upon taking charge. As reported by the Daily Mail, the 44-year-old has made training sessions at Carrington shorter but more intense in an effort to improve results this season.
The players’ reaction is understood to have been positive and it was ‘immediately clear’ from the first session that there was a different atmosphere on the training ground. The squad were also introduced to the new coaching team, made up of Steve Holland – who arrived as Carrick’s No.2 – along with Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans as first‑team coaches.
There is believed to be an effective combination of expertise and characters among the backroom team and a ‘positive dynamic’ seems to be developing already. Training sessions have also featured increased focus on one-to-one work with players and the squad are understood to be impressed by the attention to detail being shown.
It remains unclear whether Carrick has scrapped the three bans previously put in place by Amorim during the Portuguese manager’s reign or whether he has kept them. One of Amorim’s core principles at United involved banning players from treating international breaks as holiday opportunities, with Marcus Rashford and Casemiro notably facing scrutiny for flying across the Atlantic when they had only been granted a few days away from training to rest.
Ruben Amorim’s non-negotiables didn’t bring success(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
Discussing the situation, Amorim said: “Would I set a different structure? Yes, for sure. But we cannot put this on the players. They told them they have five days off so they can fly anywhere. Because nobody in the club says you cannot fly. So we cannot, this time, put that on Rash or Case.
“We as a club have to set the standards and manage that. It’s my decision if they can have five days, or three days, or three days to rest and you cannot fly. This is something that us as a club have to decide. So this must be started in the club, with us and me being responsible in that area.”
Amorim also banned food in the dressing room on matchdays, highlighting his determination to improve his squad’s physical conditioning. The Portuguese manager acknowledged early in his tenure that it was “impossible” to win the Premier League without a team that works hard.
“You can do a starting line-up with the best players on the planet, without running they also won’t win,” he said. “We have to run like mad dogs, if not we won’t win.”
Manchester United looked rejuvenated in Carrick’s first game in charge(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
His third rule targeted his coaching staff, forbidding them from delivering overly complex instructions to players. The former Sporting CP manager insisted that if he couldn’t convey a tactical concept in one sentence, it shouldn’t be communicated until simplified.
Reports suggested the approach was initially well-received by the players, given the ‘clarity’ of his instructions. However, this didn’t translate into success on the pitch, as his players found it difficult to adjust to his 3-4-3 system even after a year in charge.
It seems the players have had no such trouble adapting to Carrick’s instructions, as shown by their impressive performance in the Manchester derby. They will face an even tougher test with a trip to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, where they will take on league leaders Arsenal.