Michael Carrick out for rest of the season

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick will not be kicking the ball this season, according to manager Louis van Gaal. The elegant midfielder last played against Manchester City on the 12^th of April, leaving the field with 5 minutes to go.

Carrick is not available, it was more heavy than we thought," the United manager told a press conference. "We tried everything, but now we have to think about next season. He shall not play anymore this season, it's better now to focus for him on next season and being fit to start.”

The news comes as a blow for United fans who would have hoped Carrick had some part to play in the remaining games of the season.

Stats prove he is important: Van Gaal

Carrick, 33, has been brilliant this season and he has the stats to back him up. With him in the starting XI, United have won 72% of the games while the numbers drop down to only 35% in his absence.

“When you see the stats, it's clear that he's very important but that's also because we have only one right-sided holding midfielder. That's what I am saying already in the whole of the season, that our selection is not balanced, and I want to restore that in the next transfer period. The life is not ending at 34, but for a professional football player, it's close by. That's why I have to handle again in that position," Van Gaal told MUTV.

Van Gaal needs to sign a replacement for Carrick next season if he wants to seriously challenge for the Premier League.