00:00Thank you for taking the time. You've been on a journey at Manchester United. Tell me how old you were when Aon, the Carrington, first opened and how did you see this new building behind you?
00:09Yeah, I signed at the club as an 11-year-old, so predated Carrington. We had the Cliff and Littleton Road, both steeped in history and full of tradition, absolutely loved them.
00:20I think I started full-time in 2001 or 2002, so only a year or two into the new building being used. At the time, it was a big moment for the football club and a fantastic facility.
00:32As ever, as time goes on and the game evolves and everything evolves with it, things get updated. We were ready for an update to that.
00:43Having been out of the building for a year and going back into it the last couple of days, it's been blown away with how the building looks and the facilities we've now got.
00:52Talk to me about those facilities. What stands out? That first day you came back here, what was so impressive about it?
00:59I think the size of the football club and the size of the training ground is big.
01:04I think over the years, previously, Carrington had had bits added on to it and the flow had probably faltered a little bit, I think.
01:11So, now we've got, even though it's a big building and an awful lot of facilities in there, a lot of staff, but it really feels connected and a real good flow to it.
01:19So, I think that will be important. You need that, we want that at the football club.
01:23As ever, you've got everything you need in terms of the performance, the gym, the leisure facilities in the pool, dressing room, physio room, a new canteen with lots of natural light.
01:32But I think for me, the standout feature is that flow really, you know, even as I say, I keep repeating myself, but even though it's a big building, you know, we all feel like we're in it together and real close-knit.
01:45And talk about being close-knit, I mean, one of the things we've been told is behind this building is team unity.
01:50I mean, the unity we saw in the building, you see the likes of Alex Ferguson, Brian Robson, David Gill all there attending with everyone else.
01:56How do you all feel in terms of being close-knit? I mean, do you feel under Ruben through this pre-season that you've got even close and you can really attack this season?
02:04Yeah, I do. I think from the moment we walked back into pre-season, four or five weeks ago, there's been a real, real big feeling of that.
02:12I think we all know that needed to happen on the back of a challenging year last year, but we're only looking forward.
02:19And so far, that's been a real, real massive feature of what we've had in the last few weeks.
02:26Look, when the season starts, there's going to be challenges. No football season doesn't come without challenges.
02:29But we're ready to meet those head-on. And as I say, the vibe at the minute is a real together one, a real unified one.
02:36And optimistic and hungry, I think there's a real feel of that at the minute.
02:40Just following up on that, the leadership group that you're a part of, driving standards, do you feel that maybe wasn't a change that was needed,
02:47but could be beneficial in terms of more accountability within the dressing room?
02:51Yeah, that's right. I think that's a fair perspective on it.
02:56You know, the manager picked six players that he felt could influence the dressing room.
03:00As you say, driving standards, you know, making sure people are supported as well as maybe put in line as and when it's necessary.
03:09He's been big on that. I'm obviously delighted and very proud to be part of it.
03:13And yeah, we'll do my utmost to make sure that the Man United values are throughout this new building.
03:19How does it work? Do you want the fines? Do you look after the fines for the fines of the dressing room?
03:24Yeah, I try and avoid fines because they're usually quite contentious, if I'm honest.
03:28But yeah, it incorporates everything, really.
03:32I think for me, the highest priority is about driving standards and values of the football club.
03:39And of course, there's going to be challenges throughout the season.
03:41Some players might need support, you know, some players might need a little bit more, you know, arm round, whatever it is.
03:48You know, it's more about that. But yes, fines are a part of it.
03:52Funny for me, I just wanted to tell you, the building behind you, the new look, transformed Carrington, adds to a sense of autism.
04:00I think people feel after what was, you said, a challenging campaign.
04:03Is that fair? There does feel like a different mood heading into this campaign?
04:08It does. I agree. I think, you know, from day one, that has certainly felt like it's the case.
04:15You know, this is another marker in terms of can boost that and it has done so far.
04:20Again, though, you know, when that first whistle's blown on the first game, it's important that we're at it then.
04:25It won't always go our way, but at the minute, and we'll endeavour to do everything to keep that vibe of optimism
04:33and making sure we stay channeled towards moving us forward.
