Michael Carrick conceded that Manchester United must address its defensive vulnerabilities to improve its standing in the Premier League. Speaking at a pre-match news conference in Como, the manager responded directly to questions about his team's inability to keep goals off the scoreboard. According to MyJoyOnline, Carrick admitted that specific aspects of the squad's play require refinement to simplify the defensive structure. United are set to face Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the manager hoping for a better result than recent league form suggests.
MyJoyOnline reported that United have only prevented opponents from scoring in one of their first ten fixtures this campaign. That single shutout came against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK last month. The article noted that this defensive inconsistency is not a new phenomenon under Carrick. In the previous season, the team managed just six goalless draws in the 17 games Carrick oversaw. Before his appointment, the club recorded only two such results in the entire term, contributing to a total of nine in 63 matches under Ruben Amorim. By comparison, Arsenal have secured seven clean sheets in their first 11 games this year, a stark contrast to United's record.
The manager described the squad's fitness situation as a mixed bag. Matthijs de Ligt is available to play after 11 months away from football due to a back injury that required surgery in May. However, continuity remains a challenge, with Carrick naming the same back four only once this season. MyJoyOnline detailed that Lisandro Martinez suffered a thigh issue during the Leeds match, forcing a tactical shift. Additionally, Leny Yoro is suspended, and Luke Shaw remains unavailable, potentially until after the November international break. This has led to five different players starting at left-back in six games, a situation Carrick and sporting director Jason Wilcox are managing with the current resources.
Carrick defended the summer transfer window decisions, noting that the club made the best of the available budget. He highlighted the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m as a key part of that strategy. While some observers question the failure to sign a dedicated left-back, Carrick maintained that young players like Harry Amass remain in contention for opportunities. He stated that finding the right time to give them a chance is part of the process, as several young athletes aim to break into the starting lineup.