Michael Carrick’s arrival in January sparked a dramatic turnaround for Manchester United, lifting the team from a seventh‑place standing to third and securing a coveted return to the Champions League. That early success, however, now gives way to a new set of hurdles as United prepares for a season that could see them contesting up to three matches each week. The question looms: can the squad handle such a congested timetable, and has the club’s massive rebuilding effort overlooked a crucial component of its roster? Last season, United’s calendar was unusually light.
With no European fixtures and early exits from both the Carabao Cup (a loss to Grimsby Town) and the FA Cup (a defeat by Brighton), the Red Devils managed just 40 competitive games across all competitions. This was the joint‑fewest appearances of any Premier League side and marked the lowest total for Manchester United since the 1913/14 season. The reduced workload allowed Carrick to keep his core players fresh while rival clubs were forced to rotate heavily. In fact, between Carrick’s appointment and the end of the Premier League campaign, only five other teams made fewer changes to their line‑ups than United.
That level of consistency is unlikely to be replicated this year. The upcoming Champions League tie against Sabah on Thursday kicks off a series of eight guaranteed European fixtures, and the total number of matches could climb to as many as 67 when domestic cups and the league are taken into account. Carrick has spoken positively about the increased intensity.
He noted that, while training sessions may become shorter as the season progresses, player involvement will rise dramatically. He also emphasized that most of his squad members are already accustomed to the demands of European competition, which should ease the transition. Nevertheless, the return to continental football remains a stern test.
The last time United juggled a full European schedule, in the 2024/25 season, they finished a disappointing 15th in the league. This time around, the club hopes its revamped squad can cope with the added strain. Financially, United’s summer transfer window saw a moderate £163 million spent on new arrivals, but the overall investment since 2022 exceeds £1 billion, making the club the Premier League’s biggest spender over that period with a net outlay of £769.5 million.
However, the allocation of those funds has been uneven. The recent spending spree focused almost entirely on midfield, bringing in the likes of Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. A year earlier, the emphasis had been on attack, with signings such as Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Defence, by contrast, has been largely ignored.
Only 19 percent of the total £1 billion outlay since 2022 has been directed toward defenders, the third‑lowest share among Premier League clubs over the same timeframe—behind only Liverpool and Everton—and starkly lower than the 42 percent allocated to forwards. This imbalance has produced a squad that, while stronger in certain areas, still lacks depth and quality in others. United’s attacking unit is rated as the third‑most valuable among the league’s traditional "big six," yet its midfielders and defenders rank at the bottom of the valuation tables. Even within the forward line, questions remain.
The team boasts a wealth of supporting attackers—Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad Diallo—but relies on a single out‑and‑out striker, Benjamin Sesko, to lead the line. Moreover, the side still lacks a genuine creative alternative to Bruno Fernandes, leaving the playmaking burden heavily weighted on one player. Another striking observation is the low turnover of personnel despite the massive spending. The back four that started the 2‑2 draw with Everton—Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot—was identical to the lineup fielded by Erik ten Hag in his first match back in May 2022.
Adding Marcus Rashford’s return to the left of Fernandes means six of the starting eleven have remained unchanged, suggesting a degree of stagnation despite the club’s financial outlay. United’s retention rate from the opening game of the 2022/23 season to the current campaign stands at 54.5 percent, the highest in the league, with Arsenal trailing at 36.4 percent.
Continuity can be a virtue, as demonstrated by Arsenal’s retained core—Gabriel, Ben White, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka—who played pivotal roles in securing the Premier League title. In contrast, many of United’s long‑standing starters are more often associated with underperformance than with success. This raises concerns for Carrick as he prepares to navigate a far busier schedule with limited reliable alternatives, particularly in defence, where the options do not inspire confidence.
The cumulative effect of these factors makes Carrick’s job considerably tougher than it was last season. He must manage player fatigue, integrate new signings, and address the glaring defensive shortfall while maintaining the attacking threat that has brought United back into the Champions League. The club’s strategic decisions over the next few months will be crucial in determining whether the £1 billion rebuild can finally translate into sustained success on both domestic and European fronts. Fans can follow United’s Champions League clash against Sabah live on Sky Sports’ digital platforms on Thursday, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m.
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