Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic believes Michael Carrick has returned the DNA to Manchester United, as he prepares to go head-to-head against the Red Devils boss on Saturday.
City host the 13-time Premier League winners at a sold-out MKM Stadium on Saturday lunchtime in the season opener, and will be intent on causing a major upset, as the Tigers look to start their campaign on the front foot against a side expected to challenge for the top four, at the very least.
The two clubs haven’t met since a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, when Carrick was in United’s midfield under Jose Mourinho, with that period seeing the Manchester giants struggling to make an impact in the Premier League, or in Europe’s premier club competition, the Champions League.
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United will arrive in East Yorkshire for the first time since a 2-1 League Cup defeat in 2017, with the usual pressure and expectation that goes with being one of England’s biggest clubs.
Carrick, who arrived for a second spell as Old Trafford boss in January following Ruben Amorim’s sacking, was appointed permanently in the summer after winning 11 of 16 games to guide United into the Champions League, and now, he will be expected to have them challenging at the top of the league.
“I think that Michael Carrick has shown a big potential,” the Croatian told Hull Live. “I think that he put back the DNA of Man United from seasons before. Now the players know for which club they are playing, and also they are always expecting to win, and I think the team are following him.
“This is the reason why he stayed in his position, why he signed a new contract, and I expect that Man United would fight for the top four or top five.”
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