Carrick knows how Menu feels right now, having experienced a similar lack of playing time during the 2010 World Cup.
Carrick's unpleasant moment came in 2010 when he was included in Capello's 23-man squad for the South Africa World Cup. Carrick may have sensed the troubles early on – Capello had tried to persuade Scholes to retire from the national team and then considered calling up Hargreaves, who had only played one minute the previous season. Ultimately, Capello chose Carrick, but England's World Cup journey was painful, a feeling amplified for those who didn't even get a chance to play. They lived in remote areas, played poor football, and were thrashed 4-1 by Germany in the round of 16.
Eight years later, Carrick reflected on the experience, admitting how deeply it affected him. He didn't play for England for the next two years. "I was on the national team squad for a long time, and to be honest, training with England was agonizing," Carrick said in 2018. "I don't mind going for three weeks of pre-season with Manchester United or something, but with England, it was almost depressing. It was very frustrating, so after the South Africa World Cup, I got to the point where I thought, 'I can't do this anymore.' People would say you have to pull yourself together, be grateful, and I understand my situation, I know how lucky I am, but it just felt too hard, I couldn't take it anymore. I might have reached... Yes, I do get depressed sometimes, that's true. I told the FA, 'Please, don't pick me anymore.'"
Menou hasn't publicly discussed his experience in North America, but it would be interesting to hear his thoughts if he does one day. Carrick played only four games at the 2010 World Cup, while Menou went unselected for eight, despite missing Saturday's match due to a minor back injury. England observers noted Menou's fluctuating mood during the tournament: he left the pitch quickly and often appeared dejected, but this is partly due to his personality – he's a quiet, reserved person who often prefers solitude. For now, we can only speculate about his feelings.
But if anyone can understand his feelings, it's Carrick. The 44-year-old manager's use of Menou during the second half of last season was a major success, and his understanding of the academy graduate will be crucial again. Carrick's influence on Menou has been immediate – the latter returned to the Manchester United squad after being dropped by Ruben Amorin (who clearly shares similarities with Tuchel). It's meaningful to recall Carrick's assessment of Menou back in January. "I really enjoyed working with Kobe," Carrick said. "I've known him since he was a kid, I started coaching him when he was probably 13 or 14, when I was studying for my coaching license myself. He's very serious, not very talkative, but you can see his self-expression in the way he plays. He enjoys the game, and it's fantastic to see that."
Menou appeared serious during his time with England, but we shouldn't overinterpret it. The challenge now is to get him back to enjoying football. He's expected to join Manchester United at Catton House in County Kildare, Ireland, after the friendly against Paris Saint-Germain. Like Carrick, he might find being with his club more enjoyable than being away for six weeks with the national team without playing time. Someday, Menou might reveal how he views his summer experience. For now, he at least has a perfect manager to help him get back to his best form at Old Trafford.
