Manchester United's early season has been marred by familiar questions and a below-par start, with the team securing only one win in their opening four Premier League fixtures. This run has intensified scrutiny on head coach Michael Carrick and his squad.
The team's latest setback was a 1-0 home defeat against Manchester City, a match where United conceded early to Erling Haaland's strike. The club has since received an official apology from Pro Ref concerning the judgment around the goal, but the internal review is expected to delve deeper into the team's overall performance.
Carrick, who had previously pushed back against criticism of the team's start, now concedes that four points from four games is unacceptable. The sole victory came at home against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, highlighting a lack of consistent results across other matches. This has led to questions regarding recruitment, team selection, tactical decisions, and Carrick's own position.
"We don't need a break or a restart," Carrick stated after the City game. "We've just got to move on and get winning again." The club faces Brighton in the Carabao Cup on September 16, followed by a league match against Fulham four days later. A strong performance in these upcoming fixtures is crucial to quell external criticism during the upcoming international break.
Tactical Challenges
Opposing teams have found success against United by adopting a defensive approach, limiting space and transitions. Manchester City's manager, Enzo Maresca, noted that with 10 men, his side deliberately dropped back, neutralizing United's counter-attacking strengths. "They are a team that loves transitions and space in behind," Maresca said. "With 10 players, we just dropped and waited for them, so we didn't concede any transitions and didn't concede any space in behind."
Historically, United has excelled as a counter-attacking side, a characteristic that has persisted under various managers. However, the current squad seems geared towards possession-based play, a style that has proven difficult to implement against teams content to defend deep. The vision and skill required to break down such defenses have been inconsistent, raising questions about the effectiveness of United's approach.
Squad and Recruitment Concerns
United's summer recruitment focused heavily on strengthening the midfield, with an investment of £155 million. However, the impact of these signings has been limited so far. Youri Tielemans has yet to reach peak form, while Carlos Baleba has yet to make his debut. Andrey Santos was dropped after the opening game and has not featured since.
Further squad concerns have emerged, particularly at left-back, where the absence of back-up for Luke Shaw, whose 41-game Premier League start streak ended, was noted. The introduction of Joshua Zirkzee, a player available for transfer all summer, as a late substitute against City, indicated to some observers that the overall squad depth may not be at the required level.
Key Player Performance
Bruno Fernandes, who enjoyed an outstanding individual season last year, has seen a dip in his overall impact. While his goal tally remains respectable, his assist numbers have decreased. Questions have been raised about his involvement and performance, particularly following his full 90 minutes played in a Champions League match against Sabah FK, despite his team holding a significant lead and facing a quick turnaround to the Manchester City game.
With Fernandes entering the final year of his contract, and United holding an option to extend it to 2028, a continued over-reliance on the midfielder is a growing concern for the club.
Managerial Scrutiny
Carrick was appointed head coach on a permanent basis in May, following a successful interim spell. However, comparisons have been drawn to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment, which also came after a period as interim manager. While Solskjaer achieved successive top-three finishes, he was often criticized for not being an elite coach. Critics are suggesting Carrick faces similar doubts until he can prove his credentials.
Carrick himself reflected on the City game, stating, "I thought we had a fair bit of the initiative, especially second half. Before they scored, I thought we were better. I thought we'd come out at half-time and build momentum. We hit the post, and the game was building the way we wanted. Then the goal obviously had a big impact. We could have finished the game better. We could have been a little bit more creative."