Michael Carrick knows exactly what Manchester United need to turn their season around — and it’s the most basic thing in football: stop conceding goals.
Michael Carrick (Credits: BBC Sport)
Speaking ahead of United’s Champions League trip to Como on Wednesday, Carrick admitted his side’s defensive record must improve. United have kept just one clean sheet in 10 games this season — against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK last month — and were held to a 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday.
“There’s definitely parts of our game we have to improve to make things easier. I am fully aware of that,” Carrick said at a rain-lashed Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium.
Continuity at the Back Is the Problem
The numbers tell a grim story. United managed six clean sheets in Carrick’s 17 matches in charge last term, and only twice all season before that under Ruben Amorim — nine in 63 games total. For comparison, Arsenal, whose title triumph was built on defensive solidity, have seven clean sheets in 11 matches this term.
A huge part of the issue is constant chopping and changing. Carrick has named the same back four only once this season — Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw against Ipswich and Everton in late August. Dalot became the fifth different player to start at left-back this season against Leeds, with Harry Amass potentially making it six.
Injury Crisis Deepens Before Como
Defensive resources are stretched thinner than ever. Martinez limped off at Leeds with a thigh injury and didn’t travel to Italy, while Leny Yoro is suspended and Shaw is out for longer than the November international break. Matthijs de Ligt is “fit and ready” after 11 months out with a back injury that required surgery in May — but Carrick preferred the converted full-back Noussair Mazraoui in the central slot at Leeds, suggesting the Dutchman isn’t yet trusted for a full 90 minutes.
United even enquired about Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri on deadline day, a sign they knew left-back was a problem. They didn’t fix it. Now Como await in Europe, and Carrick’s men must somehow find a shutout from a defense that has managed one all season.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
