After games at away grounds, should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be occupied by extensive media duties, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna have been known to take responsibility for representing Manchester United in the host manager’s office.



The pace of the modern game means not all clubs engage in the tradition of a post-match chat, lubricated perhaps by a glass of red wine or a beer, but United will find the time, and when it is the turn of the two young assistant coaches, aged 38 and 33 respectively, they make a good impression.



“Really, really nice guys, I have to say,” says one Premier League colleague. “Inquisitive and humble.”



Carrick and McKenna have moved to the forefront of United’s staff from contrasting starting points and according to those who have worked with them, their personalities are also different. But both hold similarly crucial roles in Solskjaer’s backroom team, tasked with leading most of the...