Michael Carrick is reflecting on how quickly circumstances can change as he prepares to face Thomas Frank's Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday. Just five months ago, in September, Carrick, then doing TV work after leaving Middlesbrough last summer, interviewed Frank for Amazon Prime ahead of Frank's first Champions League game in charge of Tottenham against Villarreal. Now, Carrick is the head coach of Manchester United, and he's preparing to go head-to-head with Frank on the touchline.

Carrick, 44, had never met Frank, 52, before that interview. The pair "struck up a bond" during their meeting at Spurs Lodge, spending over half an hour discussing their football philosophies and exchanging coaching advice. At the time, Carrick's return to the dugout seemed distant. However, in January, Manchester United contacted him about the prospect of replacing Ruben Amorim as head coach, an opportunity he seized.

Carrick has enjoyed a dream start to his United reign, securing wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, followed by a 3-2 victory against Fulham. He has signed a contract until the end of the season. Another win against Frank's Tottenham would further strengthen his case for remaining in charge next season.

Speaking ahead of the game, Carrick acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football. "Yeah, (life) certainly can change," he said, reflecting on the September interview. "I really enjoyed it, actually." He added, "We got on really well. It's the first time I've met him properly and we had a good chat just about general kind of football things". He noted that they discussed "a little bit on processes and ideas," and that Frank was "really accommodating". "I enjoyed it, so it will be good to see him again," Carrick concluded.

Frank joined Tottenham last summer after a successful spell at Brentford. Tottenham's form has been inconsistent and they are winless in their last six Premier League matches, drawing four and losing two. However, Carrick is wary of the challenge Tottenham poses. "They certainly bring a challenge," he said. "I think you can see especially the way they finished the game the other day." He also noted the impact of injuries and changes within the Tottenham squad, which he believes makes them "a lot more challenging".

In terms of team news, Carrick will be without Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt, with Mason Mount also a doubt. Frank, however, will have Micky van de Ven available. Carrick is focused on the task at hand and securing another victory for Manchester United. A win would not only consolidate his position but also increase the pressure on his counterpart, Thomas Frank.