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 this weekend may be identical to the one that took the field on the first day of the campaign four years ago. On 7 August 2022, Erik ten Hag’s inaugural lineup featured the newly‑signed Argentine centre‑back Lisandro Martínez – a £56.7 million acquisition – alongside Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. United went on to lose 2‑1 to Brighton.
Fast‑forward to 2026, and Michael Carrick, now in charge, has already deployed that same quartet in six of his first seventeen Premier League games, and he may repeat the formula against Hull City on Saturday. Despite the constant churn of personnel at Old Trafford, those four names have persisted, albeit with varying degrees of consistency.
In the four‑year span they have only managed to start together ten times, and sixty per cent of those appearances have come under Carrick’s stewardship. A mixture of injuries, suspensions and tactical tweaks has prevented them from establishing a regular rhythm. Their early partnership was rocky.
Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot suffered defeats in their first two outings together, including a painful 4‑0 drubbing by Brentford. They did not reunite until 30 October 2022, when United edged West Ham 1‑0. Since then, the defensive roster has been peppered with other names – Tyrell Malacia, who arrived in the summer of 2022, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelöf have all been rotated in and out, often sharing duties 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 after a hamstring setback. Both Martínez and Dalot also endured injury spells that limited their availability, though Dalot’s record has been comparatively modest.
Martínez’s fortunes have been more severe: after a foot problem kept him out for the first half of the 2023/24 season, he suffered a torn ACL in February 2025 and only returned to action in November after nine months of rehabilitation. Shaw’s injury history has been similarly erratic; across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns he managed just 27 appearances in all competitions. The summer of 2024 saw further upheaval. Varane and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka departed, while three new signings – Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt – joined the squad, followed by two January 2025 additions, Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu.
Yet the back four still lacked continuity, a problem compounded by a mid‑season managerial change. Ten Hag left in October 2024 and was succeeded by Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, whose tenure lasted only fourteen months. During his spell, Amorim never fielded the Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination, preferring a 3‑4‑3 system that he defended stubbornly despite mixed results. In December 2025, Amorim finally abandoned the three‑centre‑back setup, opting for a traditional back four against Newcastle.
United kept a clean sheet for the first time since early October, but the experiment was short‑lived; two weeks later Amorim resigned, reportedly frustrated by being forced into a tactical compromise. Carrick stepped in as caretaker and immediately reinstated the familiar quartet for a 2‑0 victory over Manchester City.
He has since repeated that selection on five more occasions, achieving five wins and one draw, though only two clean sheets were recorded and three of the triumphs came by 3‑2 margins, indicating defensive frailties remain. De Ligt’s long‑term back injury, which has kept him out since November 2025, further narrows Carrick’s options. Though the Dutchman returned to first‑team training this week, he has not been match‑fit for over a year.
Meanwhile, no significant defensive reinforcements have arrived since Dorgu’s signing 18 months ago. Malacia left in the most recent summer window, while Lindelöf and Jonny Evans departed the previous year. If Carrick wishes to stick with his current plan, he will eventually need to bring in fresh talent. Since taking over, Carrick has emphasized a compact, low‑block defensive shape, with the team defending close to its own penalty area.
This approach produced several impressive wins, but pre‑season fixtures have hinted at a shift. United appear to be pressing higher up the pitch, seeking to win the ball back quickly after losing possession. The pre‑season match against Amorim’s Milan side exposed some growing pains; the high line was caught out, and the fourth goal resulted from a simple pass over a raised defence. The performance underscores the urgency of acquiring a reliable left‑back.
Shaw, now over 30, will need rotation to cope with the increased workload that European competition brings. Supporters are eager to see Dorgu feature in that role, but he has predominantly been deployed as a left winger under Carrick. Introducing a specialist left‑back could provide the necessary balance and speed to recover when the high press is breached. 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 viewed as a footballer’s prime. The question remains whether they can adapt to yet another tactical evolution without a drop in performance. In summary, Manchester United have undergone massive changes in personnel, management and playing style over the past four years, yet the defensive core of Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot has remained a constant option for Carrick.
Whether this quartet can continue to serve as a viable back line for the foreseeable future will depend on injury luck, the arrival of new signings, and the manager’s willingness to evolve the defensive philosophy beyond its current limitations.