Since the summer of 2022 Manchester United have splashed out nearly £220 million on eight new defenders, yet the quartet that may start the opening game this weekend could be identical to the one that took the field on the first day of the 2022‑23 campaign. On 7 August 2022, Erik ten Hag’s debut line‑up featured the newly‑signed Argentine centre‑back Lisandro Martínez (£56.7 million), veteran Harry Maguire, full‑back Luke Shaw and right‑back Diogo Dalot.
United lost that match 2‑1 to Brighton, but the four names have resurfaced repeatedly in the years that followed. Fast‑forward to the 2026 season: Michael Carrick, now in charge, has already deployed the same back four in six of his first seventeen Premier League fixtures, and he appears poised to repeat the formula against Hull City on Saturday. Despite a revolving door of signings and injuries, the core group of Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot has remained a constant, albeit an inconsistent one. Statistically, the four have only shared the pitch together ten times over the past four years, and sixty percent of those appearances have come under Carrick’s stewardship.
Their early partnership was rocky – they suffered defeats in their first two outings, including a bruising 4‑0 loss to Brentford. After that setback the quartet did not reunite until 30 October 2022, when United edged West Ham 1‑0. Throughout the intervening seasons the defensive roster has been in flux.
Tyrell Malacia, who arrived in the summer of 2022, alongside Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelöf, were rotated in and out of the back line, often sharing duties with the core four. Maguire, in particular, found himself on the bench for much of the 2022‑23 campaign and missed a month while nursing a hamstring strain.
Both Martínez and Dalot also endured injury spells, though Dalot’s absences have been relatively brief compared with his teammates. Martínez’s injury record has been especially problematic. The Argentine missed the first half of the 2023‑24 season with a foot problem, then suffered a catastrophic ACL rupture in February 2025.
He only returned to first‑team action in November, after a nine‑month rehabilitation. Shaw’s fitness has been equally erratic; across the 2023‑24 and 2024‑25 seasons he managed just 27 appearances in all competitions, frequently shuttling in and out of the squad with a litany of niggles. 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 – were added, followed by two January 2025 signings, Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu.
Yet despite these acquisitions, a clear, stable back four never materialised, partly because of a mid‑season managerial change. Ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024 and replaced by Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim. Amorim’s tenure lasted only fourteen months, and during that period he never fielded the Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination. A staunch advocate of a 3‑4‑3 system, Amorim persisted with three centre‑backs even when results suggested the formation was not working for United.
In December 2025 he finally switched to a back four against Newcastle, securing a clean sheet – the first such defensive shut‑out since early October. However, Amorim’s experiment was short‑lived; two weeks later he exited the club, reportedly frustrated by being forced to abandon his preferred setup. Carrick stepped in as interim manager and immediately reverted to the familiar quartet.
In his first match back, United defeated city rivals Manchester City 2‑0 with Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot anchoring the defence. Carrick has since used that same line‑up on five more occasions, recording four wins and one draw, and notably not losing any of those games.
Despite the unbeaten run, the defensive record remains modest. The side kept just two clean sheets across those six fixtures, and three of the victories were narrow 3‑2 affairs, highlighting lingering vulnerabilities. Adding to the picture, de Ligt has been sidelined since November 2025 with a back injury, meaning Carrick has not been able to call upon his Dutch centre‑back.
De Ligt returned to first‑team training only this week, but has not featured in a match for eighteen months. Since Dorgu’s arrival, United have seen no major defensive reinforcements. Malacia left in the summer, while Lindelöf and Jonny Evans departed the previous year.
If Carrick intends to stick with his current defensive blueprint, he may soon need to explore the market again, especially given the physical demands of a schedule that now includes European competition. Tactically, Carrick’s United have traditionally defended deep, staying compact and protecting the box – a strategy that produced several impressive wins. Pre‑season, however, suggested a shift. United have begun to press higher, looking to win the ball back quickly after losing possession.
This aggressive approach was exposed in a friendly against Amorim’s Milan side, where the high line was breached for a fourth goal after a single pass over the defence. The performance underlined a pressing need for a quality left‑back. Shaw, now over thirty, cannot be expected to shoulder the workload of a high‑press system alone.
Fans have expressed interest in seeing Dorgu deployed in that role, but he has primarily been utilised as a left winger under Carrick. Introducing him at left‑back could provide the stamina and pace required for the intensified pressing style. Age is another factor to consider.
Maguire and Shaw are both past the thirty‑year mark, while Martínez and Dalot are in their late twenties. Though these are still prime years for many footballers, the question remains whether they can adapt to yet another tactical overhaul without a drop in performance. In summary, Manchester United’s defensive landscape has undergone numerous changes in personnel, management and philosophy over the past four years, yet the starting back four has remained eerily consistent. The Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination continues to be Carrick’s go‑to option, but whether this arrangement can endure through the rigours of a demanding season, and the inevitable evolution of playing styles, is still an open question.