Ruben Amorim received message from new Man United boss Michael Carrick that speaks volumes

Michael Carrick is preparing to take charge of Manchester United for the second time in his career as he looks to get one over on rivals Manchester City in his first fixture

Michael Carrick had some words of wisdom for Ruben Amorim before his first game in charge of Manchester United, advice that now seems relevant as the 44-year-old prepares to face Manchester City. Amorim was dismissed earlier this month after just over a year at the helm.

Old Trafford has seen a shift in leadership, with Amorim shown the door and former player Carrick once again stepping in to guide the team until the end of the season. The aim is to find a permanent solution by summer.

Carrick has previously taken the reins of the 13-time Premier League champions, being installed after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure. During his brief three-match stint five years ago, he managed two victories and a draw, including a memorable 3-2 win over Arsenal.

As he prepares for his first match this time around, Carrick will be hoping for a similarly unforgettable result as he sets his sights on besting rivals City. A message he once sent to the now-departed Amorim offers a glimpse into how the 44-year-old might be feeling.

Back in November 2024, as Amorim was gearing up for his managerial debut with United against Ipswich Town, Carrick had a message for the Portuguese boss.

"It's obviously a big challenge," were the first five words of Carrick's advice. "An incredible football club with huge expectations. It's where you want to be in terms of testing yourself against the best and he's there so I hope he does well.

"I'm obviously a supporter and my family are. We love the club so I really hope it works out. There are good players there, good people in the club, so hopefully he goes there and settles in really quickly."

These enormous expectations now rest on Carrick's shoulders and when it comes to a significant challenge, few are greater than going up against the tactical genius that is Pep Guardiola.

Amorim's opening fixture ended in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich. As Carrick steps into Amorim's shoes ahead of the City clash, he views this as a chance for the team to begin with a clean slate.

"This is a fresh start," Carrick said. "I've got a lot of belief in the group, individually and collectively. I've got a lot of belief in that and confidence and a feeling. Things can go in a different direction very quickly and I've got a lot of belief in the boys.

"I'm not going to tell you everything about how we're going to do it because I'd be a bit silly to do that, but I think tactically and as a team, what we want to look like and things that we feel can help us will be hugely positive.

"I think it's so half-full, half-empty. What players can't do, or the team can't do, we actually forget what they can do, what they're good at and believe in that and work on their strengths and feed off that energy to make you better.

"There's a lot of players and a lot of teams in the world that can't do things, but that doesn't stop them being successful. So, we need to find that ingredient, and I fully believe we can do that."