Jose Mourinho confirms Michael Carrick will join coaching staff in the summer and heaps praise on Luke Shaw

Michael Carrick trains in Dubai on Manchester United's winter training trip last week
Michael Carrick has completed two weeks of full training after his return from a hear procedure Credit: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Michael Carrick has signalled his intention to join his first-team coaching staff once the Manchester United midfielder retires from playing at the end of the season.

Carrick has played just 90 minutes this season after undergoing a cardiac ablation last year to correct an irregular heart rhythm.

Mourinho said Carrick was now on the verge of a return after training fully over the past fortnight and was confident the 36-year-old could play a valuable role over the remainder of the campaign.

But Mourinho has indicated that the former England midfielder plans to bring down the curtain on his illustrious 19-year professional career at the end of the season and had accepted the offer to join his six-strong back-room team.

Asked if Carrick – who has won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his 12 years at Old Trafford – had agreed to take up his offer, Mourinho said: “Yes.” Until then, Mourinho expects Carrick to play an important role on the pitch.

“A few months without even training so now he is in his second week of training with the team,” the United manager said. “He’s a very important player for us. I think the decision [to move into coaching] to be at the end of the season and not last week is a good decision for the team and a good decision for him to finish playing football and not injured or with some problem.

Michael Carrick of Manchester United in action during a first team training session as part of the club's pre-season tour of the USA at UCLA on July 11, 201
Carrick will join Mourinho's staff at the end of the season Credit: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

“So, we are all happy and at the end of the season I expect him to join, unless he changes his mind, but the club would be very happy for him to do that. I would be very happy also for him to do that.”

Carrick’s retirement and the possibility of Marouane Fellaini refusing to sign a new contract and leaving at the end of the season when his existing deal expires would leave Mourinho needing to sign two central midfielders this summer.

However, the need to sign a new first-choice left-back is fast receding, with Mourinho impressed by the strides, physically, mentally and tactically, Luke Shaw has made in recent weeks, to the point where he claimed there are few left-backs in the world better than the 22-year-old on current form.

Shaw’s career at Manchester United appeared in jeopardy last year after Mourinho questioned his commitment, focus, ambition and football brain.

But Mourinho admitted he had been impressed by the dramatic turnaround in the England defender, who has started eight of United’s past 11 games.

Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw has impressed his manager in recent weeks Credit: getty images

Ashley Young is available to face Burnley at Turf Moor after completing a three-match suspension for elbowing Southampton’s Dusan Tadic but Shaw is likely to keep his place.

“He’s played very well,” Mourinho said. “He was already improving and playing well when I start playing him after that long spell without minutes. I remember the first time, in the Champions League [against CSKA Moscow], he was coming step by step.

“And now with a good run of matches and continuity also, playing like he did against Everton two days after a previous match – he’s been good, solid, physically much better, mentally much stronger, tactically understanding the game much better and what we need in different phases and circumstances.

“I’m really happy. You like the transfer market. I can say that in this moment I don't see many left-backs better than this Luke Shaw.”

Mourinho had been keen to sign a new first-choice left-back this year, but those plans appear to have been shelved for now with the Portuguese pleased with the strides Shaw is making.

Shaw claimed this week that he feels in the best shape of his career and rejuvenated under Mourinho and said he was hoping to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans.

“A bad injury like I had always stays with you a little bit afterwards but it’s in the past and I feel really good and really fit and my leg feels perfect,” Shaw said. “Body-wise and fitness-wise I probably feel the best I’ve ever felt. Mentally I feel strong as well and I’m enjoying my football. It’s now about pushing on and helping the team.

“I’m really determined for the second half of the season. There are so many games coming up. There is a lot to play for with the World Cup as well. A lot of players want to impress their national managers and, personally, I want to play as many games as possible to help United. If I can then hopefully I will state my case to go to the World Cup. I had a taste of it in Brazil [in 2014] and it was amazing.

“I can’t wait for the Champions League to start again too. I broke my leg in my first Champions League game [against PSV Eindhoven] so it’s a competition I’m determined to help the team do well in.”

Asked about Mourinho’s recent praise, Shaw added: “It’s really nice to hear. The manager has been really good with me and has given me extra confidence.

“He’s just told me to go out and enjoy the games and that is what I’ve been doing. I’m just focussed on working really hard for the manager, and for the team, because I want to keep on playing and hopefully more games will come.”

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