Since the summer of 2022 Manchester United have splashed out roughly £219.7 million on eight new defenders, yet the back four that could line up for the opening fixture may be the very same quartet that took the field on the first day of the campaign four seasons ago. On 7 August 2022 Erik ten Hag’s debut featured Lisandro Martínez – a summer signing worth £56.7 million – alongside Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. United fell 2‑1 to Brighton, and that line‑up has resurfaced on several occasions since.
In six of the 17 Premier League matches that Michael Carrick has overseen in 2026, he has reverted to that same defensive unit, and the same selection could appear again when United face Hull City this Saturday. Despite the constant turnover of personnel around Old Trafford, those four players have persisted, albeit with varying degrees of consistency. Over the past four years they have shared the pitch together only ten times, and six of those ten outings have come under Carrick’s stewardship. A mix of injuries, suspensions and tactical tweaks has prevented them from forming a regular partnership.
The initial pairing of Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot endured a bruising start, losing their first two matches together – the 4‑0 drubbing at the hands of Brentford being the most painful. They were not fielded as a unit again until 30 October 2022, when United secured a 1‑0 victory over West Ham. During that period other defenders were rotated in and out. Tyrell Malacia, who arrived in the summer of 2022, as well as Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelöf, were frequently mixed with the core four.
Maguire, in particular, found himself on the bench for large stretches of the 2022/23 season and even missed a month with a hamstring problem. Both Martínez and Dalot also suffered injury setbacks that season, though Dalot’s absence record has been relatively modest compared with his teammates. Martínez spent most of the first half of the 2023/24 campaign nursing a foot injury before suffering a catastrophic ACL rupture in February 2025. He only returned to action in November after a nine‑month lay‑off.
Shaw’s fitness has been equally erratic; across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons he managed just 27 appearances in all competitions. The summer of 2024 saw further upheaval. Varane and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka departed, while three new faces – Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt – joined the squad, followed by Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu in the January 2025 window.
Yet the back four still lacked a clear, settled identity, a problem compounded by a mid‑season managerial change. Ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024 and replaced by Portuguese coach Rubén Amorim. Amorim’s tenure lasted just 14 months, and during that period he never fielded the Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination.
A staunch advocate of a 3‑4‑3 system, Amorim clung to the formation even when results suggested it was ineffective at United. In December 2025, after a series of disappointing displays, he finally abandoned the three‑centre‑back set‑up and deployed a traditional back four against Newcastle, securing the club’s first clean sheet since early October. However, Amorim’s experiment was short‑lived; two weeks later he resigned, reportedly frustrated by the lack of tactical freedom.
Carrick stepped in as interim manager and immediately reinstated the familiar quartet. United beat city rivals Manchester City 2‑0 with Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot forming the defensive spine. Carrick repeated that selection five more times, recording five wins and one draw, though the side kept only two clean sheets and three of those victories were narrow 3‑2 affairs, underscoring lingering defensive frailties. De Ligt’s prolonged back injury, which has kept him out since November 2025, further limited Carrick’s options.
Although the Dutch centre‑back returned to first‑team training this week, he has not featured in a match for over a year. No significant defensive arrivals have occurred since Dorgu’s signing 18 months ago.
Meanwhile, Malacia departed in the most recent summer window, and both Lindelöf and Jonny Evans left the club last year. If Carrick intends to persist with his current approach, he will eventually need to bolster the back line.
Since Carring’s arrival, United have tended to defend deep, staying compact and forcing opponents to play around a well‑organized block. Pre‑season observations suggest a shift toward a higher line and a more aggressive press‑and‑counter‑press strategy, aiming to win the ball back quickly after losing possession. This evolution was exposed in a friendly against Amorim’s Milan side, where United’s high line was breached for the fourth goal after a single pass over the top. The match highlighted a pressing need for a quality left‑back.
Shaw, now over 30, cannot be expected to shoulder the entire workload in a system that demands frequent forward runs and rapid recovery. Supporters would like to see Dorgu deployed in that role, but he has primarily been used as a left winger under Carrick. A genuine left‑back who can combine defensive solidity with attacking thrust could help United execute their desired style without leaving the defence exposed.
Age is another factor to consider. Maguire and Shaw are both in their early thirties, while Martínez (28) and Dalot (27) are entering what is traditionally regarded as a player’s prime years. The question remains whether they can adapt to yet another tactical overhaul without a dip in performance.
In summary, despite a torrent of transfers, managerial changes and tactical experiments, United’s defensive core has remained remarkably static. The Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination still provides a viable option for Carrick, but the sustainability of that reliance is uncertain. Continued injuries, the advancing age of key figures and the evolving demands of a higher‑line, press‑oriented system suggest that further reinforcements will likely become essential if United hope to solidify their back line and compete on multiple fronts.