In an exclusive interview with BOYLE Sports , former Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz has spoken candidly about the realities of "Modern Football" Carrick's positive start at Manchester United and whether he can replicate the trajectory of Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.
The Swede also gave his perspective on whether Arsenal can benefit from the form of Manchester United, if Sesko can emulate "idol" Ibrahimović and the transfer rumours regarding Tonali and Ronaldo .
Michael Carrick
Carrick’s Good Start
Michael Carrick has made a good start. You can’t complain with the results, first the Manchester derby and then, of course, against Arsenal . They showed so much improvement in that game. I think they look more dangerous but also more solid. They are suddenly a much better team, even though I know Ruben Amorim is a very good coach, but sometimes you can't win all the battles.
You can't always be successful at a club for various reasons, and I think it started quite negatively for Amorim when he took over mid-season. He didn't have a pre-season with the team, so to take over when the team wasn’t performing and were low in confidence, it took him a bit of time to understand the Premier League and its players.
What were the best positions for his players? What was the best system? He learned it the hard way. But suddenly, when he got the results, it was looking good for him. Then suddenly he made some comments to the media, and after that he was sacked, but he is a very, very good coach.
Could Carrick Emulate Arteta?
You need time as a manager, but also you have to understand the reality. It's a lot of pressure. You need to deliver results. It's not like when you're working with youngsters that you want to develop their strengths to have good careers and all that. It's your job to get the wins and get the results, and of course, you want your team to perform well. You’ll be much closer to having a positive result if they do. That’s how it is.
Will Carrick Guide Man United to Champions League Football?
Title Race
Can Man United Help Arsenal?
I think Arsenal just have to concentrate on themselves. They need to treat the next game as the most important one. Respect the opponent, but never be afraid. Never be nervous. Never be anxious. We know there will be games where Arsenal will suffer, but it's part of how to win something. It will never be easy to win a title. You need to go through some bad moments, and in those tough moments is when your character, your personality and your team spirit shows from the coaching staff to the players and even to the supporters.
The Arsenal supporters have to give them all the support they can to give them a good push when they are in these tougher moments, because you have to believe in yourself. You have to be focused on yourself to do whatever you can do to win, and I think the Arsenal fans have been great. It's normal for supporters to be nervous. It's a lot of emotions. But what you can do is lots of shouting and screaming, and singing. That's how you get rid of your anxiousness and nervousness as a supporter. You must be as positive as possible to give the players all the support they need during the game, and even after the game and before the game. There has to be a connection between the players, the team and the supporters. They have to want it together.
Benjamin Sesko
Will Sesko Emulate Idol “Zlatan” At Old Trafford?
Benjamin Sesko is a good player. He did well at RB Leipzig and the other clubs he’s been at, but he’s taking a little bit of time to settle in at Manchester United to be his best but he’s a very competent striker.
The pressure, of course, if you’re a Manchester United player, is very big. Maybe even more when they are having a bad time. Sesko is expected to be the saviour of the team, but it’s not always like that because you have to depend on your teammates and the service you get. Even if you get the right passes, you need the confidence too, and so far I would say he’s shown himself to be a very interesting player, and I believe he will reach new heights next season in a United shirt.
He has so much potential and many qualities, but I don't see him like Zlatan with that sort of attitude. I think he is more reserved. More quiet. But I’d rather he tried to speak for himself with his actions on the field anyway. That’s what a player should be judged on, and I wish him all the best. I just hope that he has a quiet game every time he plays against Arsenal!
Transfer Talk
Arsenal Don’t Need Tonali!
Sandro Tonali to Arsenal ? He’s a good player, but I think Arsenal have enough in the midfield department. Arteta already has the players, and I’m not a big fan of signings in the January window.
Maybe if you're at the bottom and want to stay up or if you are short of players, but when you have a good side, and you’re top of the league, I wouldn’t change too much because every player, even if it’s only one player, will change the group dynamic in the dressing room. I wouldn’t have risked it.
Ronaldo’s Next Move
Could Cristiano Ronaldo still have an impact in a big European league? The Saudi league is not bad at all. It’s quite competitive with some good players, and it is improving too. Ronaldo still continues to score goals, but of course, it will be more difficult in the Premier League or one of the other top five leagues, and he wants to break his record to score 1,000 goals, and that’s not easy, no matter what league you are in.
He is a tremendous professional. What he has done for football it’s just insane with all the numbers, all the records he’s broken. He shows other players how to be a real pro with his approach to training, recovery, nutrition and his focus. But he is like any player with a contract. He has to perform. I don’t think anyone should say that they must be the most appreciated player. It all depends on your performance, and while he has shown he deserves all respect, his actions are strange to me.
If he wants to go and try and be a Hollywood star, I think he has enough time to do that after he’s finished his career in Saudi Arabia . He’s a good-looking man. Very physically fit. Maybe he can be like an old-school action hero in Los Angeles, like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone. Who knows! He’s very talented in many things.
Where Will Ronaldo Play Next?
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