United supporters have grown accustomed to seeing opponents blown away, with a glittering era of success enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Things have moved on, though, with a transitional period, started by David Moyes and taken up by Van Gaal, leaving the Old Trafford outfit as a work in progress.
United have had to alter their tactics accordingly, despite bringing in the likes of Angle di Maria and Radamel Falcao, and Carrick hopes fresh thinking will be embraced by those on and off the field.
The England midfielder said in the Daily Mail: "The philosophy is different in that he is happy for us to keep the ball for long spells to get in the game, and get rhythm in our game.
"Whereas before, especially at home with the crowd as well, it's always been a case of trying to attack as quickly as possible with speed and penetration, and even if you give the ball away a few times, keep trying it.
"It's just a different way of approaching the game really, there is no right or wrong, just different beliefs I suppose.
"It's fine for the players, we adapt, we see it every day and are learning all the time. It is more for the fans as well, to appreciate it and to be fair, they have been great.
"Sometimes when you are keeping the ball, they might think they want us to put it straight into attack. But there is a meaning to it as well, it's not like we are just keeping the ball for the sake of it. So that is something we all have to get used to.
"The manager is obviously firm in what he wants and the standards he's got. It is up to us to hit them really and if we don't, he lets us know which is fine. That is the way it should be.
"I think the secret of being a manager at that level as he has been for a number of years is to know when to have that strong aura, and when to be more friendly and approachable. You need that barrier because that is what creates the respect and get people to respond to you."
United have endured a rough ride under Moyes and at the start of Van Gaal's tenure, but Carrick believes the future is bright and that positive progress will soon be made up the Premier League standings.
He added: "We have had ups and downs but hopefully that is in the past, that is over. We don't want too many ups and downs, we certainly don't want any downs.
"We want to try and keep progressing, we feel like we are but as I said before it's results that show so now is the time we really need to get a run of results together, to build the momentum to get up that league."
