Man Utd news: Michael Carrick scraps Ruben Amorim rule as Red Devils eye shock 62 year first

Michael Carrick has completely transformed Manchester United’s fortunes since taking charge last month, and the Red Devils stars are already feeling the beneifit of one rule he has scrapped since Ruben Amorim’s tenure

A nearly two-week break without a fixture is not typical for Manchester United. Yet that’s the situation facing the Premier League heavyweights following elimination from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup plus the absence of European competition.

Despite the club almost inevitably concluding the campaign empty-handed, fans remain buoyant thanks to the remarkable transformation in performance and results under Michael Carrick since his arrival last month. Guiding his former team to four consecutive victories, including triumphs over Manchester City and Arsenal, their winning streak ended in the 1-1 stalemate with West Ham though the point maintained their fourth-place standing.

The break has enabled the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount to regain match fitness following their recovery from injuries to further strengthen United’s pursuit of Champions League qualification. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at Carrick’s latest assertion of his influence and United’s surprising transfer strategy.

Carrick abandons Amorim rule

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The atmosphere at Old Trafford has markedly improved since Carrick’s appointment last month. The Englishman has steered the club to four victories from five matches and his impact has been felt by the squad both on and off the field thanks to reportedly abandoning a rule introduced by Ruben Amorim.

Throughout the Portuguese manager’s tenure at United, he banned mid-season holidays following the backlash Marcus Rashford and Casemiro faced for travelling to the United States during an international break. However, Carrick has relaxed his policy with Bruno Fernandes and Senne Lammens both taking advantage of the freedom.

Given United’s premature exit from the FA Cup, the club finds itself with a 13-day interval with their next fixture on February 23 against Everton.

The extended spell without a match permitted Lammens to visit former club Royal Antwerp over the weekend, with the Belgian side sharing a picture of the 23-year-old at their ground. Club captain Fernandes chose a journey back to Portugal where he was seen watching Pacos de Ferreira versus Torreense.

Sensational Liverpool raid

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With midfield reinforcements top of United’s summer agenda, it has surfaced that the Red Devils are considering a potential swoop for Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister. Whilst the club have shown interest in Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson, the Argentine has now emerged as a target for Carrick’s squad.

Rumours persist that the 27-year-old, whose deal at Anfield expires in 2028, might depart Merseyside this summer following what has proved a challenging personal campaign.

Should a transfer come to fruition, it would mark the first direct switch between the two rivals since Phil Chisnall moved from United to Liverpool in 1964.

It’s still uncertain whether Mac Allister would consider departing Arne Slot’s team, but the World Cup victor has previously voiced his desire to play in Spain before hanging up his boots. United recognise that a sensational capture of the midfielder can only materialise if they secure a spot in the Champions League.