Since the summer of 2022 Manchester United have splashed out on eight new defenders, spending a total of £219.7 million on the arrivals. Yet, despite that hefty investment, the back four that could line up for the opening fixture this weekend may be identical to the one that took the field on the first day of the campaign four seasons ago. On 7 August 2022 Erik ten Hag’s side began the season with Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot in the defensive line‑up.
Martínez had just joined for a £56.7 million fee, but the quartet suffered a 2‑1 defeat at the hands of Brighton. Fast‑forward to the 2026 campaign and, in six of Michael Carrick’s 17 Premier League matches so far, he has again opted for that same combination, and the same could happen when United host Hull City on Saturday. A great deal has shifted at Old Trafford in the intervening years – new owners, new coaches, new signings – but those four players have persisted, albeit without ever forming a truly stable partnership. In the four‑year span they have shared the pitch together on only ten occasions, and even then the majority of those games (about 60 %) have come under Carrick’s stewardship.
Various circumstances have prevented a regular rhythm: injuries, suspensions, tactical tweaks and managerial changes have all played their part. The initial pairing of Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot was far from smooth.
Their first two outings together ended in disappointment, highlighted by a 4‑0 drubbing at the hands of Brentford that exposed the frailties of a defence still learning to communicate. After that heavy loss the quartet was not fielded together again until 30 October 2022, when United secured a 1‑0 victory over West Ham United. During that period other players were rotated in and out of the back line. Tyrell Malacia – a summer 2022 signing – as well as Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelöf frequently featured alongside or in place of the core four.
Maguire, in particular, found himself on the bench for large stretches of the 2022/23 season and even missed a month after a hamstring setback. Both Martínez and Dalot also suffered injuries that kept them sidelined for significant periods, although Dalot’s injury record has been comparatively modest. Martínez’s troubles have been more severe. The Argentine centre‑back spent most of the first half of the 2023/24 season nursing a foot injury, then suffered a ruptured ACL in February 2025.
He only returned to first‑team action in November, after a grueling nine‑month rehabilitation. Shaw’s situation has been equally erratic; recurring muscular problems limited him to just 27 appearances across all competitions in the combined 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.
The summer of 2024 saw a further overhaul of United’s defensive roster. Varane and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka departed, while three new faces – Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt – arrived, followed by two January 2025 signings, Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu.
Despite the influx, consistency remained elusive, a problem compounded by a mid‑season managerial switch. Ten Hag left in October 2024 and was succeeded by Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, whose 14‑month tenure never featured the Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot quartet. Amorim was a vocal advocate of a 3‑4‑3 system and was reluctant to abandon it even when results faltered. In December 2025, under pressure, he finally deployed a back four for the first time against Newcastle United, securing a clean sheet – the first such defensive shut‑out since early October of that year.
Yet his stay was short‑lived; two weeks later he resigned, citing frustration at being forced into a formation he did not trust. Carrick then stepped in as caretaker manager. In Carrick’s debut as the man on the touchline he reinstated the familiar quartet of Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot, leading United to a 2‑0 triumph over city rivals Manchester City.
Over the next six matches he stuck with that line‑up five more times, achieving five wins and one draw – an unbeaten run (W5, D1). However, defensive solidity was still lacking; the side kept only two clean sheets in those games, and three of the victories were narrow 3‑2 affairs, underscoring lingering vulnerabilities. Adding to the defensive puzzle is de Ligt’s long‑term back injury, which has kept him out of action since November 2025. He only returned to first‑team training this week, meaning he has not been available for Carrick’s selections.
Meanwhile, no major defensive reinforcements have arrived since Dorgu’s signing 18 months ago. Malacia departed in the summer, Lindelöf and Jonny Evans left the previous year, leaving Carrick with limited options unless he decides to dip into the transfer market. Since taking the helm, Carrick has made it clear that United’s defensive philosophy centres on compactness and defending close to the own penalty area.
This approach has produced several impressive wins, as the team has remained tight and difficult to break down. Pre‑season, however, hinted at a shift – perhaps an evolution – as United began to press higher up the pitch, looking to win the ball back quickly after losing possession. The side was exposed in a friendly against Amorim’s Milan, where a high line allowed the opponents to score the fourth goal after a single pass over the defence.
That moment illustrated why United urgently need a quality left‑back. Shaw, now over 30, cannot be expected to shoulder the full burden of a high‑press system across a congested fixture list that includes European competition.
Fans are eager to see Dorgu feature in that role, but he has predominantly been deployed as a left‑winger under Carrick. Converting him into a defensive outlet could provide the balance United require, offering both pace and recovery ability when the back line is caught out. Age is another factor that cannot be ignored. Maguire and Shaw are both in their early thirties, while Martínez and Dalot are 28 and 27 respectively – still within their prime years, but the question remains whether they can adapt to yet another tactical overhaul.
The physical demands of a high‑pressing, quick‑transition style are considerable, and squad depth will be essential to sustain performance over a long season. In summary, despite a flurry of signings, managerial turnover and tactical experiments, United’s defensive core has remained remarkably static. Four years on, the Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination still represents a viable option for Carrick, but the sustainability of that setup is uncertain. Injuries, age, and the need for a more dynamic left‑back suggest that further reinforcement may be inevitable if United hope to improve their defensive record and compete on multiple fronts.