‘What a difference’: Deeney raves over Carrick’s impact on ‘creative’ Man Utd star in Team of the Week picks

Rebecca French

3 months ago

Bruno Fernandes was unsurprisingly named in Troy Deeney’s Premier League Team of the Week.

The Manchester United talisman etched his name on the scoresheet with an 81st-minute strike at Old Trafford to secure three points and a fourth consecutive win.

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His decisive goal came after he returned from a brief injury layoff to provide at least one assist in his last four league games, taking his tally to a staggering 200 goals in the red.

It took Fernandes 314 games to achieve the feat, while it took Wayne Rooney more time to reach the milestone than the 295 games it took the club legend.

After including the Portugal star as a matchweek 25 selection, Deeney said: “What a difference a manager can make – to be free, to have the ball, to go wherever he wants and to be creative. I think Michael Carrick gets a lot of credit for that, but equally, he scored another goal against Tottenham and got United another win – he has to be there.”

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Saturday’s victory cemented United’s position in the race for the top four, with the team still one point ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea and just three behind third-placed Aston Villa, who they face on March 15.

Liverpool’s dramatic defeat to Manchester City last night means the Reds are now five points clear of their bitter rivals.

Carrick’s side do not face Liverpool again until the final stages of the season at Old Trafford on May 2, by which time the Champions League race could be over if results continue to go in United’s favour.