Former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham has stressed the importance of Michael Carrick to Louis van Gaal’s system.
Manchester United missed the veteran midfielder’s influence during the winter months due to a muscle injury, but his return to the team has coincided with two back-to-back wins over fellow top four challengers Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool respectively.
His importance in Van Gaal’s team can be illustrated with the fact that Manchester United have lost just once in the league this season when the former Tottenham midfielder has started and have drawn just three.
Carrick again played an influential role sitting in front of the defence against Liverpool and Higginbotham said that the midfielder’s influence on the way Manchester United operate under Van Gaal is immense.
Taking the example of the Liverpool game last weekend, the former defender told MUTV: "Carrick was so important and it's a vital job he does.
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"Against Liverpool, Carrick was always there in a triangle with Smalling and Jones. There was no fear of a counter-attack.
“Coutinho is Liverpool's most influential player but Carrick was so vital in making sure he didn't have space between midfield and the forwards."
The veteran midfielder has won five Premier League titles and a Champions League crown amongst various other honours at Manchester United and recently signed a one-year extension with the club to keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2016.
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