Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira says he feels lucky to have former player Michael Carrick as his coach. Pereira, who spent the last two seasons out on loan at Granada and Valencia, has been involved in United’s pre-season tour of the US. The 22-year-old has started both games so far and impressed in the holding midfield role against San Jose Earthquakes – the same position Carrick, who retired at the end of last season to take up a first-team coaching position, played in.
“He is very good with me,” Pereira said of Carrick. “He always tells me what to do and helps me in training. If I do something wrong, he will tell me.
“Even if I do something good, he will tell me as well. It is very useful as well because he played in the same position. It is very easy to learn off him. So if he tells you something, it is so easy to pick it up because you understand it straight away. I am very lucky he is there for me.”
Pereira made his United debut in August 2014 but has only made 12 first-team appearances since then. Despite going out on loan twice – the midfielder insists he wants to push for first-team football in the Premier League.
“It is my intention to stay here and help the club and team,” he said. “That is my first intention. I want to everything I can to stay at the club and help United this season.
“I have always been a midfielder and when I was young I always played as a midfielder but anywhere the manager tells me to play I will play and try to do my best.
“So now I am playing the No 6 ole, I can play the No 8 role as well. I am just picking it up and learning in training from Carrick and the manager himself. They are helping a lot and I will try to do my best to play there.”
Anthony Martial has been allowed to leave Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the USA so he can attend the birth of his second child. The 22-year-old forward started both of United’s matches on their tour so far, but failed to score in either their 1-1 tie with Club America or their 0-0 draw with San Jose Earthquakes. United still have two matches remaining – against , Liverpool and Real Madrid – during their time in the USA, but it is unclear whether Martial will return to play in any of them.
The Premier League side’s only pre-season fixture not taking place in the USA is against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on August 5.
It is understood that Martial has told United manager Jose Mourinho that he wants to leave the club, with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund keen to sign him.
Martial joined United three years ago, and was a regular under then manager Louis van Gaal. However, he has struggled to hold down a starting spot under Mourinho.
The forward could be on his way out after not finishing his pre-season duties.
Anthony Martial is unlikely to return the United States to rejoin his Manchester United team-mates after leaving to attend the birth of his child, reports the Telegraph. Martial left Los Angeles for Paris to attend the birth, but the move may or may not have been sanctioned by manager Jose Mourinho, who was not happy over the late notice. Leaving the club, even if his reason appears justified, may have been taken as a signal of intent that he intends to force his way out of the club.