Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has offered veteran midfielder Michael Carrick a place on his coaching staff as the 36-year-old approaches ever close to his final days as a player.
Carrick, who has 34 senior cap for England released a statement on Friday night stating he had undergone a heart procedure called a cardiac ablation, and that he would be available for selection once again in the near future.
There has been no decision announced on whether this season will be his last on a pitch for the Red Devils. However, it seems that the West Ham United academy graduate’s illustrious 18 years career is beginning to take its toll, with Carrick currently suffering the longest injury absence of his career.
Mourinho has identified this, and instead offered Carrick a role on the bench alongside him as a way to stay within the game, a decision that is fully supported by the club’s hierarchy.
“Michael, as a person, is more important than Michael as a player”, the Portuguese manager said following his side’s 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, as quoted by the club’s official website.
Here is a statement in relation to my recent fitness. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/RN3TOE9VT4
— Michael Carrick (@carras16) November 24, 2017
“We gave him the time to relax, to recover, to feel confident, to make the decision [when he] wants to play, [when he] wants to stop.
“He knows that my coaching staff has the chair for him if he wants. When he wants the chair, it is there in the office for him. I want that, the board wants that and the owner wants that. So Michael is in a comfortable situation. His future will be with us.
“But he wants to be a player until the end of the season and now he feels confident to be back and now he is training back with us. So [he is] one more option for us, we need players and Michael wants to play so I am happy with that.”
He has already taken his coaching badges and worked with Man United youngsters at the AON Training Complex, however, Michael Carrick is set to see this season as a player and make the decision of his future during the summer.