Michael Carrick is certainly enjoying life as Manchester United caretaker head coach.

Since Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim last month, United have taken 13 points from five matches to climb to fourth in the Premier League.

That included back-to-back wins over title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal en route to the 44-year-old being named Premier League manager of the month.

Much has been made of the former United midfielder's faith in 20-year-old academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, who has gone from not starting a league match this season under Amorim to being a mainstay.

In an in-depth interview with Mark Chapman, Carrick refers to Mainoo as a "huge talent" and speaks more broadly about continuing the club's 88-year record of having an academy product in every matchday squad.

He also answers questions about his future, with his contract at Old Trafford only running until the end of the season.

Mark Chapman: The last time I saw you was on Match of the Day. Were those experiences so bad that you felt you just had to jump at a job that came your way?!

Michael Carrick: I have to say, I really enjoyed it - seeing it from a different perspective, watching football in a different way. I enjoyed it, but this one was too good to turn down, unfortunately!

Mark: Take us back to the process of getting here - the first phone call that you got... what went through your head?

Michael: I was actually in the car. I was driving on the way up to Newcastle at the time when the message came through. It was a nice thing to hear - of course it was - but I was quite calm about it actually.

I don't know why, but it just felt right. And that's not me being arrogant or blase in any way - it just felt quite normal. You get a good feeling from it, but I've been here for so long and experienced so much that probably, at some point, I was always hoping in the back of my mind that the opportunity would come along - and thankfully it has.

Mark: You smiled, surely? And who did you ring after you put the phone down on that call?

Michael: Listen, I was delighted obviously. To be at this club is special, so I'm not playing it down, but it wasn't the case that I came off the phone shouting and screaming and celebrating on the motorway or anything. I just called my wife and said, 'this is what's happened, this is where we're at'.

Mark: So when you agree to do it and you know the length of time that you're doing it for, what do you start preparing for? Your backroom staff? Had those calls already gone in?

Michael: Obviously assessing what needs to be done, what needs to be put in place, what staff, what that balance looks like. And it's condensed into quite a short space of time. Putting the staff together was something that we had to get right and wanted to get right. So, I was really happy with that - how it came together... I was absolutely delighted with the staff.

It's about getting the best out of the players, isn't it? So, like you say, the first conversations... that first impression goes a long way. I've been on the other side when someone new comes in the room. My message, to be honest, was: 'I'm here to support you. I'm here to help you. We're here to push you.'

Ultimately, we want to get good results here, but there are ways of doing it and hopefully they've felt that support so far.

Mark: Did you think that they'd been underachieving as a group?

Michael: It's not really to say whether they achieved or underachieved. For me, walking in the door, it was about what was in front of us and I knew it was a really talented group... a lot of potential within the group. It was just about what can we do to help and improve things. We had three days before we played Manchester City so it was a really condensed, compressed game-prep week with a lot of things going into it in a short space of time.

Mark: Did it help that it was Manchester City and Arsenal as the first two games?

Michael: You could say it helped now...

Mark: But hindsight's a wonderful thing isn't it?

Michael: Yeah. I think the fact that it was two massive games... City was a huge game - playing at home, and the atmosphere I have to say was pretty special on the day. Even building up to the game, you could feel it in and around the stadium before kick-off. It's impossible to describe how much that helps, but to feel that between everyone - it's a real special feeling for me to be in the position to be able to share that with so many people. That's probably the most satisfying thing so far - getting that connection and feeling that emotion from everyone in such a positive way.

Mark: With the three members of staff that you brought in - Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans - how do you work as a four? Because there was a lot of attention on the people you brought in...

Michael: There's Travis as well - Travis Binnion, who's been here for a number of years now through the academy. And Craig Mawson - the goalkeeping coach. There's a really strong group and it feels like we've been together a long time, but we didn't all know each other. I didn't really know Steve personally an awful lot. I thought it would come together nicely and was balanced and there's a reason why I wanted to bring Steve in.

Jonathan... I had him at Middlesbrough - loyal, gets me, knows me, pushes me, challenges me... really good relationship. Jonny knew the club. He's been here so long and has a really good relationship with the players as well... loves coaching, loves helping, cares a lot. And then with Travis... the club needs the academy. It's a massive part of this football club.

I think there's a really good balance with the responsibility of the academy, young players and then Jonathan and Jonny - being two of the best centre-backs you could come across in the last 20-25 years - to pass their information on.

Steve - with his experience in so many ways... Chelsea, with change of managers and different styles of managers and top, top players, and England. All the staff are able to cope being around the environment and I think that's so important.

Mark: And they challenge you? They tell you when you're wrong?

Michael: For sure, yeah.

Mark: Not every manager would accept that.

Michael: I can't be right the whole time - it's impossible. That's why we've got a group of six in our office. We've all got strong opinions, but I think we all filter it and it's important that we have a connection and understanding of what direction we want to go in. We have to push each other, for sure.

Mark: You mention the academy. What does the academy mean to you?

Michael: An awful lot. Listen, I've always kept that feeling of what it was like as a young player. It's something I've always had an eye on and been passionate about. With the tradition of this football club, it's natural to take that on. It's just as proud a moment as any to give a young player their debut and there's certainly a want - from not just me but all the staff and everyone at the club - to try and produce the young players and give them opportunities as much as we can.

Mark: A United academy player has always been in the first-team matchday squad since 1930-something, isn't it? Is that a sense of pride? How much can it become a slight millstone if you would be the one that breaks that run?

Michael: Huge sense of pride on behalf of the whole football club, I think. It's really outstanding to have for such a long period of time and it's something we need to hold on to. It's what this football club is built upon really, and has been for so many decades. So, yeah, I'm definitely well aware of it and we want to carry it on.

Mark: When you watch the academy and you're watching the under-age teams as well... is the pipeline - and I'm not putting pressure on them - but is the academy in good health?

Michael: Yeah, I think it's in great hands. I think it has been. I think historically here it's kept producing players, year after year. We always hope for the next group or the next individual. There's so much good work that goes into the academy.

We get carried away sometimes about the football and results. Where we're at now, it's wins and draws and losses that count in some ways. But it's about developing young people and behaviours and helping them. There are so many players from this club that have maybe not even made a debut here, but have moved on and had unbelievable careers in the game. And I think that's something, again, that as a football club we're really proud of.

Mark: So, following on from the academy chat, there's been so much noise around Kobbie Mainoo this season... and not featuring, and now he's featured all the time under you. What did you see when you first got to work with him? Mentally, how was he and how have you got to where he is at the moment?

Michael: I've known Kobbie a long time. I started working with him when I think he was 13 or 14, when I was starting to do my coaching badges - a good few years ago. Just little bits. And then, obviously, when I was here the first time, he was in and around a little bit.

So I think knowing him and having experience with him and seeing him perform at such a level on such big occasions... I said earlier about coaches being able to cope with being here and at the level to deal with it. What Kobbie's done at such a young age is quite incredible really.

We forget how young he still is. I was just a big fan of watching him play and knowing what he was capable of. So it wasn't really a big decision to play him. And, to be fair, it's not easy when you haven't played to find your rhythm and find your form.

There are things he can get better at, things he can improve on, but we haven't really got started on any of that because we're just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again. I've been really conscious of not giving him an awful lot - a couple of little pointers, a bit of positional things and some little bits here and there - but trust in what he is. He's a fantastic footballer and he's got a huge talent.

Mark: It sounds, in many ways, that you rely on on the human being side of things rather than - I don't mean this in a disparaging way - rather than a flipchart.

Michael: I like being around people. I like to share things. I'm not one that would be an individual as such and I don't promote the fact that I've got all the answers. I'm quite happy to discuss that. I think getting the best out of people - whether that's in the industry of TV or in the industry of sport or business... I think treating people with respect. I think that whatever it is, the technical side, tactical side, we can get better at all that, but if you haven't got a connection and that buy-in and that willingness to want to come with you and follow you, then all the other bits kind of lose their value and you don't get to fulfil all that potential. So I see it as a massive, massive thing to get that connection with people.

Mark: Do you shout at them?

Michael: I haven't yet, no. There's a time for all sorts of emotions and that's the beauty of being in this position - you've got to pick the right time and tap on the right kinds of buttons to get the right reactions.

Mark: When you witnessed the hairdryer [which Sir Alex Ferguson's fiery outbursts became known as] were you like: 'Crikey'?

Michael: Yeah, I'm not sure I could replicate that! I wouldn't try to! A couple of times I've seen it and it puts you at the back of your seat, trying to get further away from it. But, again, you're talking about Sir Alex and he was the genius at using people and getting the best out of people in so many different ways - support, pushing, a bit stronger than pushing at times - but it worked. It was all about getting the best out of his players.

Mark: Who are the managers that you played for that you look to incorporate now in what you're doing?

Michael: There's a few times I've done something and then it's not until after that I remember something that happened years ago with different managers or coaches. Experience is a beautiful thing to draw upon in different ways and that's just life. Listen, Sir Alex had the biggest impact on me - I think that's pretty obvious to say because of everything we achieved here. But I think just learning and knowing that I've never got all the answers and to just keep searching for more experience. That's why the staff are there to help in that regard.

Mark: A lot of the players from that era are now pundits - in the same way that when you were playing, a lot of the successful Liverpool team were pundits. Do you have to accept it and shut it out? And is that easier for you than it is for your younger players?

Michael: It doesn't bother me one bit. Genuinely, it doesn't. I'm not going to really fall out with anyone over that. I think it's a respect thing as much as anything and I'll give and take that. I think for younger players in general it's something we need to help them with and look after them. It's a different world now to when, say, I was coming through, but we do that and we look after them.

Mark: If I were to ask you if you wanted it [the job] beyond... I know you'll have a stock answer, but I also think you're probably very much just 'what will be will be' are you?

Michael: It's not a stock answer - for me, it's the ultimate role. I'm really enjoying it, I love what I'm doing. I'm fortunate. I feel privileged to be in the position I am, but it's not the fact that I believe I can do it and I'm here to do it.

I said it when I came in - there's the sentimental side of that... of understanding the role and coming through the club and being here and loving the club and being a supporter and all that side of it is one thing. But, actually, I'm here to do a job now and to make a good team and be successful.

I don't decide how long that's going to be but I love being here and and while I'm here, I'll give everything I can. And I always plan for the long-term future for the benefit of the football club. That's how I believe it should be.

Mark: And you're very happy, aren't you?

Michael: Yeah. Have I smiled enough for you?!

Mark: Yeah.

Michael: I'm loving what I'm doing. Again, you know... really good people. The staff are fantastic, the players have been unbelievable. It's a really good place to come in every single day - to drive in and look forward to being here. And then, obviously, around the city and globally, the reaction and the support that you get - it's very hard to describe it. It's incredible. So, yeah, I'm delighted to be here.

Mark: But if people keep asking you that, then you might shout at them?

Michael: Possibly!