Michael Carrick transformed Manchester United's fortunes after his appointment in January, steering the side from seventh to third and clinching their return to the Champions League. But, after a disappointing start to the new campaign, how will they handle the challenge of juggling three games per week? And has their rebuild neglected one key part of their squad?
With no European football and early exits from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup against Grimsby Town and Brighton respectively, Manchester United only played 40 games in all competitions last term. It was the joint-fewest of any Premier League side and the club's lowest total for a single season since the 1913/14 campaign. The light schedule allowed Carrick to keep key players fresh while Manchester United's rivals were having to rotate.
In the period between his appointment and the conclusion of the Premier League season, only five sides made fewer line-up changes than United. That level of consistency in terms of selection is unlikely to be possible this season, with Thursday's game against Sabah the first of eight guaranteed Champions League fixtures. Manchester United could play as many as 67 games across all competitions.
Carrick has talked up the positives of a more demanding schedule. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "It's less training once the season gets going, but a lot more involvement for the players," he said during pre-season. Carrick also made the point that the majority of his players are more accustomed to playing in Europe than not.
But the return to continental competition is still a test of their squad. The last time Manchester United juggled European commitments, in 2024/25, they finished 15th. They should be well-equipped to cope with the extra workload.
Manchester United spent a middling £163m on new signings during the summer transfer window but they have invested more than £1bn in total since 2022 and have the highest net spend of any Premier League club in that timeframe, at £769.5m. But there has been a lack of balance in their spending. This summer, it was focused almost entirely on their midfield, with Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans the headline additions.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
