Hi Michael, three games so far, three wins, [Premier League] Manager of the Month nomination. Has what’s happened in these first few games, in any way, changed what happens at the end of the season? Anything in your talks with the club at all? And has it whetted your appetite to try if there was ever any chance for this job now full time?
“Nothing has changed, to be honest, it’s not going to change what I do or how I feel about it. I’m fully aware of the role I’m doing here and the responsibility I’ve got. You want to be successful. I want the club to be successful beyond the end of this season, if that’s me, that’s somebody else [in charge]. At this stage, I can’t control that. We’ll see what happens. It’s certainly about trying to improve the team and keep making Manchester United stronger and improving all the time. But nothing’s changed. The results over a short period of time don’t change that, if they have changed that, there’s something wrong. It can’t be so kneejerk whether it’s really good or whether there’s a few issues we need to solve. It’s steady progress really. You know that football can twist and turn just as quick. So, you’ve got to keep level really and keep focusing on what we need to do.”
If this continues, would you be happy for your name to be part of that conversation?
“I’m loving what I’m doing, I’m here. I feel at home here, but I fully understand the situation, so I’m not getting too carried away.”
He’s been outstanding under you, was gathering real momentum in the weeks before you came. How much of a blow is it personally and to the team to lose him?
“It’s a blow, it’s always a blow when you lose players and they can’t be involved, and we can’t choose them. Especially when you’ve had an impact like Patrick did over the last few weeks. Just finding that next level. Unfortunately, football throws things up, there’s up and downs. For this short period of time, he’s disappointed, he wants to be fit. But he’s going to have a career for the next 10 or 15 years and hopefully this is just a little moment for him. Coming off the back of the huge positive he’s just had, I think when he comes back, he’ll be even stronger again.”
Can I just ask about Steve Holland and where the idea for that appointment came from? And how important he’s been for what you want to do on the training pitch, and also the run of results you’ve had…
“I think when talks were progressing, when I looked like I might be coming in here, I was spending some time thinking about what the staff might look like. Actually having conversations with my brother [Graeme], as I do all the time, about what it might look like. He ended up mentioning Steve, knew him from The FA and I’d come across Steve a number of times. Fully aware of his experience and quality as a coach, and experience as well. It ticked a lot of boxes and that kind of just went from there. I spoke to Steve and we clicked straight away. As with the rest of the staff to be honest, with Jonny, Jonathan and Trav and Craig. There’s been a good balance and connection between us. It feels like we’ve been together much longer than just these three weeks.”
Both of you have worked as coaches under Jose [Mourinho]. It feels like a very collaborative effort, all of you on the touchline, matchdays, training. In terms of Jose’s influence on you and Steve, is that something you’ve found a common ground on?
“It’s more just the experience in general, at the [top] level… he’s had vast experience in so many different scenarios. Being at Chelsea for so long, growing up around here and being a massive United fan helps to start with. But being at Chelsea, being successful, winning trophies, knowing what it takes. Different styles, different managers, different types of players. He’s had a real good knowledge and back story really, if you like, of experience to pick at. We speak a lot about different things, all of us, all the staff. There’s the connection, I learned a lot from Jose in the five months when I was coaching. When you see how he works, how he thinks, how he sees players and things, and they end up coming off like he predicted in certain times. He had a real good eye for that. So, there’s certainly that connection. I wouldn’t say it’s totally me and Steve with Jose, but there’s definitely those common kinds of factors that help us work together for sure.”