Michael Carrick’s faith in Manchester United’s DNA fires his belief in revival under Ralf Rangnick

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is no longer at the wheel but the cultural reboot he started will continue. After 15 years at Manchester United, Michael Carrick knows all about the fabric of the club and expects its DNA to be carried into the next era.

As Solskjaer tearfully said goodbye to the club last week, he could point to a legacy. United have been as poor as their mid-table position suggests but, off the pitch, were at least consistent with their plan under Solskjaer.

The principles were to bring through hungry players instead of “galacticos”, often homegrown even if they came at a cost. Or should they look at the foreign market, get value for money like they have with Bruno Fernandes or Raphaël Varane. When a superstar came on the market in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, he at least was steeped in the history of the club.

“The club doesn’t change. It is still Manchester United, it still has a certain DNA running right through it,” said Carrick. “Expectations and responsibilities are the same, playing exciting football, we are here obviously to win first and foremost but in a certain way.

“Listen, you look over history, there have been lots of different managers and lots of different players, played different systems and different ways but there has always been this backbone to it of successful teams. As a club we are fully aware of that and that’s where we obviously need to be and I’m sure we will be there soon.”

Carrick made an impact in his first game, making changes to the starting line-up and earning victory in Villarreal last Tuesday. In his post-match interview he hinted at United’s rope-a-dope tactic being deliberate, as they rode their luck before Ronaldo struck.

Ralf Rangnick is poised to look after the team for the rest of the season after Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge, before another change is made in the manager’s seat. The German, 63, is hardly expected to make wholesale changes to the club given his short time in charge.

For Carrick, he believes the season is still alive despite reaching the lows of the defeat by Watford last weekend and the comprehensive losses against Liverpool and Manchester City recently.

“There’s plenty left in the season, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “Of course, with where we are in the league and the results we’ve had, it’s frustrating and disappointing, but there’s so much left in the season.

“The other night was massive to confirm we’ll be in the Champions League and finishing top of the group was huge, giving us something to look forward to.

“Over time, not just here but other clubs, you have bad spells, sometimes really bad spells, in a season and you can almost have another season within a season when things change. That’s form, that’s football and confidence, it’s how it goes at times. Striving for consistency is always the balance that you want to get. That’s the gold standard.

“Who’s to say that as a group of players they can’t go on a run again? They’ve proved over the last two or three years that they’re more than capable of going on a run and we’ll see where that takes us. But you need to take it step-by-step and start winning games and build momentum. Anything can happen after that.”

Carrick will have to make a change to his team to face Chelsea on Sunday as Harry Maguire is suspended after his dismissal last weekend. He must consider again whether to include Anthony Martial, who was his surprise selection against Villarreal, or recall Bruno after he came off the bench and set up a goal for Sancho.

“Of course every player wants to play in the big games. I was in such a fortunate position where I had terrific players to choose from,” Carrick said. “That is the responsibility I have. The only reaction that counts is what you saw Bruno do when he came on. He had such an influence on the game. Marcus [Rashford] as well. The pair looked fantastic when they came on. That is what counts.

“Everything else surrounding the game and the week, it is what happens on the pitch and how you carry yourself and how you perform and I thought Bruno was fantastic when he came on. It was exactly what we hoped for with the ideas we had for the game. I was delighted with that.”

Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani has been in Uruguay working on his fitness after being ruled out with a tendon problem.

“I’ve had the chance to stop and focus on this niggling injury that I’m feeling in the tendon in my leg,” he said. “So I can speed up my recovery and come back quickly and be available for my club and national team.

“So, during this time, I was able to spend a few days in Uruguay, do some fitness and recovery work and stuff and, in turn, I managed to see my family at the same time, which is always important, to see your family and be close to them.”