Michael Carrick hasn’t spoken to incoming interim Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick, plays down benching Cristiano Ronaldo and explains why he loves Fred ‘a lot’

Michael Carrick says he's yet to speak to incoming interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick.

Rangnick's appointment was confirmed earlier this week, however, the German is yet to receive a work permit.

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That means Carrick remains in charge for Thursday's Premier League clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford and Rangnick is unable to offer any input.

"I haven't got anything to update on," said Carrick, who has overseen the two games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. "The process of the work permit and visa is ongoing as we speak.

"I am in this position, as I was for Villarreal and Chelsea. I'm getting the boys ready for game tomorrow night.

"It is pretty much as it was for both games. Because of the process we haven't been able to (speak). We have carried on as we have done. It has worked well for the last two games and hopefully it will tomorrow."

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Rangnick is expected to be in the stands on Thursday with the club hoping he can formally take charge ahead of Sunday's visit of Crystal Palace.

Carrick, who served as assistant coach to Solskjaer and his predecessor Jose Mourinho, would then revert to a backroom role but the former Man United midfielder admits he has enjoyed his spell in the hot seat.

The 40-year-old said: "A lot has happened in the last week to ten days. I have certainly had to adapt and take on a new challenge and different skills sets.

"I've enjoyed seeing how I've coped with that at times. You don't know until you are in this situation.

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"Sometimes you have to learn on the job and that has been the case but, I have to say, for the most part of it I have enjoyed it."

One big decision Carrick took was to name five-times world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for last weekend's trip to Chelsea.

It was a bold move and it paid off, to a degree, as United claimed a point against the Premier League leaders but Carrick has played down its significance.

"These type of decisions get blown up a lot bigger than they probably are," he said added. "Decisions are made for a lot of different reasons and certain ones get bigger news than others, but that is how it was.

"I didn't see it as being a major decision. It certainly wasn't within the camp. We all got on really well with it. The game went well, to a certain extent, and it wasn't a drama at all."

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Ronaldo's game time has been limited under Carrick but not Fred's. The midfielder has played every minute of Carrick's stint as caretaker boss.

The midfielder has attracted plenty of criticism in his three years at Old Trafford but Carrick is a huge fan of him.

"I think that gets overlooked: first choice for Brazil in a good Brazil team shows far how Fred's come since he came to the club, how much he's improved," Carrick said.

"I really like him. One of the biggest things that maybe people don't see is the attitude and desire to be a team player, he's desperate to put himself out there to play games.

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"He twisted his ankle against Villarreal in the first-half and you've seen a lot of players come off at half-time.

To come out in the second-half when it's stiff and swollen and sore, it's not easy to carry on. He got through that and he bounced into the game and there was no way he was going to miss the next game. That mentality is infectious. I'm all for that.

"I think he's improved an awful lot, Fred, he brings great energy to the team, he's improving, he's played a little bit higher up the pitch the last couple of times than before, just because we tweaked a couple of things for both games and he's done ever so well.

"Cristiano's goal against Villarreal epitomises that and he nearly got one the other night when he intercepted from [Edouard] Mendy. He brings an awful lot to the team, Fred, and I like him a lot."

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