Michael Carrick has made us better in both boxes: Harry Maguire

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire believes his club is moving in the right direction under manager Michael Carrick after a turbulent period. As the Red Devils prepare to take on Liverpool in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday, the defender spoke to TOI during an interaction - facilitated by JioStar - about the team’s resurgence, lessons learnt from a difficult campaign, the Liverpool rivalry and a lot more. Excerpts...What do you think has clicked under Carrick?The results have improved under Michael. Since he came in, he has been excellent with players, communicates really well with all his staff around him. Credit goes to them, and also to the players for adapting and performing so well in the last few months. We have put ourselves in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League, something that everyone related to United wants. We know that this club needs to be challenging for the titles, but we also know that we need to be in the Champions League.How difficult was the last season’s misery, when you guys finished 15th in EPL? It was a tough one, no doubt. Everyone was disappointed. We used it as a real reset...There were a few big changes in the squad, players leaving, new faces coming in that brought fresh energy. Not many would have backed us to be where we are now at the start of the season, but we believed. Now it’s about finishing strong and we have to improve again next season.The season didn’t start well either. What changed after that?It was a difficult start but I felt we were playing better than the results showed. There were games we should have won, but we could not. In the last few months, we have been a lot better in both boxes.We have defended our box a lot better, a lot more consistent. And the boys going forward, when we have had chances, have been real clinical. It’s something the manager and staff have really worked on with us.The last time you played Liverpool, you scored against them, which was the first time United won at Anfield in almost a decade. How did that feel, scoring a late winner against your arch-rivals?It was an unbelievable feeling for the fans, for me and for my family. To score a winner in a game like that was really special. Liverpool have had the better of us in recent years, so it’s something we’re determined to change and make sure we’re in the driving seat of that rivalry again.You’ve extended your contract until 2027. What made you commit your future to the club?I love this club, it’s a huge honour, playing for Manchester United. So to have the opportunity to play another season, especially when the team is in a good place, is really exciting. I want to be part of this journey.How impressed have you been with Ayden Heaven’s performances?He’s been really good. He’s still young and talented and has a lot to learn. He is an amazing player and can have a really strong future at this club.(Watch Manchester United vs Liverpool in the Premier League at 8 pm on 3rd May, Live & exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network)