MAN UNITED 1, WATFORD 0
Michael Carrick made a winning send off as Manchester United defeated Watford at Old Trafford in their 1,000th Premier League game.
The 36-year-old midfielder also fittingly helped create the only goal of a forgettable game for Marcus Rashford with a sumptuous through ball.
It was a rare moment of quality in a game that will not live long in the memory as United rested many of their big guns in readiness for the final of the Emirates FA Cup.
And there was fulsome praise from Jose Mourinho towards Carrick who joins the Reds’ coaching staff next season after 12 years as a player at Old Trafford.
Mourinho wrote in his programme notes: “Our captain deserves a good farewell because he has been a great player for this club.
“More than this, he is a great man, a proper man and football is not full of them. Neither is society, so it was very important that we made sure we kept hold of him, and I am delighted Michael will be on my coaching staff from next season.”
Mourinho later added losing Carrick has not been so difficult as in the last two seasons he has only had a peripheral role as he had struggled to play consecutive matches.
He said: “He has been a fantastic player and Sir Alex Ferguson was the intelligent one to buy him and have him for so many years of his career.
“He has been a phenomenal player and I am not so sad as it is the end of his career. The person is more important than the player and, because of this I am not so sad as he is staying.”
Mourinho added Carrick won’t become his assistant in the wake of the departure of his No 2 Rui Faria who has been his right-hand man for 17 years.
United’s manager added he will be restructuring his staff adding “nobody in the world is ready to be my assistant manager”.
But long term, Mourinho added he could see Carrick stepping up once he has his coaching badges and has made the transition from player to coach.
Mourinho pointed out Romelu Lukaku will be fit for the FA Cup final, but Anthony Martial is a doubt after picking up a knee injury in training on Friday.
It was an emotional afternoon as long-serving Carrick played his 316th and last game before retirement after an illustrious career that saw him win the Champions League, Europa League, five Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups.
Carrick captained a side that showed nine changes from the one that was involved in a goalless draw at West Ham on Thursday.
Alexis Sanchez and Scott McTominay were the two survivors, though it was still a side packed with experience.
There was a presentation pre-match to David De Gea, winner of the Premier League’s golden gloves award.
And there was an end-of-season feel to the game that lacked the intensity had something rested on the result.
United were already assured of second spot, their highest finish since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, though 19 points behind champions City, while Watford lay comfortably lower mid-table.
After a hum-drum opening, United took a 34th minute lead with Carrick the orchestrator with a long ball over the Watford defence.
Juan Mata raced clear and, as keeper Heurelho Gomes raced out of his area, he squared the ball to Rashford to slot into an empty net from 15 yards, his 13th goal of the season.
Watford finished the opening half strongly and were desperately unlucky not to equalise.
A header from Brazilian Richarlison was brilliantly saved by Sergio Romero and from the resulting corner Gerard Deulofeu shot straight at the Argentine keeper.
United made their first change just short of the hour when Ashley Young, who had just been booked, was replaced by Luke Shaw.
And as the tedious play persisted, Mourinho made a second change as Daley Blind made way for Ander Herrera.
Carrick left the field with five minutes left for a final time as an United player to a standing ovation as Paul Pogba took his place as the game petered out.