Interim Manchester United manager Michael Carrick dedicated their Champions League win away to Villareal to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

Late goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho - his first for the club - secured a 2-0 victory that books United a place in the draw for the last-16.

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Carrick hinted that his stewardship could be a one-and-done affair, with the club reportedly lining up a temporary appointment in case Mauricio Pochettino proves to be out of reach.

"I have enjoyed it yeah," Carrick told Des Kelly of his experience in charge, "I enjoyed the whole thing.

"I said to the players, t's not been an easy couple of days for everyone at the club. I can enjoy it so much, but at the same point that result almost feels like it's for Ole - I can't get away from that.

"Without kinda dwelling on it, we had a job to do, and when I was there things needed to be taken care of, and I was happy to do it.

"Thankfully it all went to plan in the end."

Indeed, for vast chunks of Tuesday evening's game it appeared implausible that United would come away with all three points.

A lack of defined shape in the first 45 minutes led to them coughing up chance after chance to Unai Emery's side, without truly threatening themselves.

Carrick said, "Yeah let's be honest, I don't think we could have hoped to come out here and played pretty football from the word 'go'.

"When you've suffered, results-wise, and you're not in a great vein of form - individually and as a team - it's not easy to come out and just let everything click.

"In some ways, it was the best way to win, for me. We had to show some character, we had to dig in, we had to fight.

"It went our way at times, didn't go our way at the others and the game looked like - at times - it was drifting away from us after half time.

"We got back together again, and the subs made a massive impact towards the end.

"It had a bit of everything, and that's all I could hope for - the boys gave everything."

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