Jose Mourinho confirms 'great man' Michael Carrick set for Man United swansong
Wednesday 9 May 2018 15:10, UK
Jose Mourinho labelled Michael Carrick “a great man” as he confirmed he will make his final start for Manchester United at Old Trafford against Watford on Sunday.
The 36-year-old will retire at the end of this season to join the club's coaching staff after 12 hugely successful years at Old Trafford.
Mourinho confirmed United fans will have an opportunity to bid farewell to the midfielder during the club's final Premier League game of the season.
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"He will start the last match at Old Trafford against Watford - our captain in front of our fans," Mourinho confirmed.
Carrick, who joined United from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2006, has won five Premier Leagues, Champions and Europa Leagues, FA Cup, three League Cups and the FIFA World Club Cup during his time at the club.
Mourinho says both he and the club were keen to have Carrick, who was capped 36 times by England, remain at Old Trafford in a coaching capacity.
When asked about Carrick's qualities, Mourinho said: "The most important quality is to be a man. M A N - capitals. He is a proper man.
"Football is not full of them and not just football. Society is not full of them. When you find one of them, you have to value and you have to keep.
"In this case, it is not about me, it is about the club. The club had a great man for many, many years playing football and now when his body says he has had enough, the club and myself want to keep the man.
"Of course he has qualities that we believe can make him a good coach. There are many ways to do the bridge between playing and coaching. Some guys prefer to have a couple of years to study. Some guys prefer to go to youth football before they come to the first team but in this case we decided that the bridge could be that bridge.
"The way I work with my assistants, I give them very good conditions for their evolution and I think Michael can be very positive for us."
Mourinho also confirmed that striker Romelu Lukaku would miss the club's last two Premier League fixtures against West Ham and Watford but is working towards being fit for the FA Cup final.
