Michael Carrick bids farewell to Manchester United with a moving message: "This love never dies"
Michael Carrick, the former Manchester United manager, has delivered a moving farewell message to the club's fans, in which he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he was given to lead the team, affirming that his bond with the Red Devils will remain firm despite the end of his coaching role.
The message came following the appointment of Argentine Mauricio Pochettino as the team's new manager, marking the start of a new era at Old Trafford.
According to "Marca", Carrick wanted to say goodbye to the Manchester United fans. His message looked back on his bond with the club, where he spent many years as a player before returning as a coach to take charge of the team.
Carrick thanked everyone who had backed him during his time there. He started with the fans, then the coaching staff and workers, and finally the players.
Managing Manchester United had been a great honour in his career, Carrick said. This is an opportunity few ever get, and he feels deeply grateful to have been part of the institution.
Responsibility at a club of United's size goes beyond chasing victories, he explained. It demands a genuine understanding of its history, culture and values, along with a commitment to the standards built up over many years. The club's uniqueness, he reckons, had been a constant source of inspiration.
The former coach reserved part of his message for the supporters, calling them special and unique. Watching their joy and emotion at the victories and the exceptional moments the team lived through over the year had been the finest part of his experience.
He wanted to give back some of the love he had received from them. That love never dies, he insisted, and his relationship with the fans would hold firm no matter how circumstances change.
Results had not gone the way everyone wanted in recent months, Carrick admitted. Yet he thanked the fans for sticking with him through the difficulty of that spell.
Their backing when results fell short meant a great deal to him. Loyalty in hard times reveals the true character of the fans, he said, and that is one of the reasons he grew to love the club and stay attached to it for so many years.
He also thanked the coaching staff, praising their dedication, their daily efforts and their constant support. He valued everything they had given throughout their time working together.
Those working behind the scenes did not escape his thanks either. Their efforts rarely get enough attention despite their importance, he noted. He wished the players well on the road ahead, grateful for what they had delivered while he held the reins.
Manchester United would stay an integral part of his life, Carrick said as he closed his message. The end of his coaching mission would not dent his pride in belonging to the club.
From the stands he would keep supporting the team and following its matches as a fan, wishing it further success in the coming stage under Pochettino.
