Michael Carrick’s arrival at Manchester United in January sparked a dramatic turnaround, lifting the club from a seventh‑place standing to third and securing a return to the Champions League. That early success, however, now gives way to a new set of obstacles as United head into a season that promises a far heavier workload. The pressing question is how the team will cope with the demands of playing three matches a week, and whether the club’s rebuilding strategy has overlooked a crucial component of the squad. Last season United’s fixture list was unusually light.
With no European commitments and early exits from both the Carabao Cup (to Grimsby Town) and the FA Cup (to Brighton), the Red Devils managed just 40 competitive games. This was the joint‑fewest appearances of any Premier League side and the lowest total the club has recorded since the 1913/14 season. The reduced schedule allowed Carrick to keep his core players fresh while rivals were forced to rotate their line‑ups. In fact, between Carrick’s appointment and the end of the Premier League campaign, only five other clubs made fewer changes to their starting XI than United.
That level of consistency will be impossible to sustain in the upcoming campaign. United’s first Champions League match against Sabah on Thursday marks the beginning of eight guaranteed European fixtures, and the total number of games could climb to as many as 67 across all competitions.
Carrick has spoken positively about the increased intensity, noting that while there will be less training time once the season is in full swing, the players will be more involved in matches. He also highlighted that most of his squad are already accustomed to the rigours of European football, which should ease the transition.
Nevertheless, the return to continental competition 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 recent investments will provide the depth needed to avoid a repeat. Financially, United have been among the most active spenders in recent years.
The summer transfer window saw a moderate £163 million outlay, but the cumulative expenditure since 2022 exceeds £1 billion, making the Red Devils the Premier League’s biggest net spender over that period with a net spend of £769.5 million. However, the allocation of those funds has been uneven. This summer’s acquisitions were heavily weighted toward the midfield, with the arrivals of Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans forming the headline signings. By contrast, a year earlier the club focused on its attack, bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Defensive reinforcements have been conspicuously scarce. Only 19 percent of the total £1 billion investment since 2022 has been directed at defenders, placing United third‑lowest among Premier League clubs in that category—behind only Liverpool and Everton—and far below the 42 percent allocated to forwards.
The imbalance has left the squad stronger in some areas but still lacking depth and quality in others. While United’s attacking line‑up is rated as the third‑most valuable among the league’s traditional big six, their midfield and defensive units rank at the bottom.
Even within the forward line, questions persist. United boast a wealth of supporting attackers such as Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad Diallo, yet they rely on a single out‑and‑out striker, Benjamin Sesko, for the primary goal‑scoring role.
Moreover, the team still lacks a genuine playmaking alternative to Bruno Fernandes, limiting tactical flexibility. Another striking observation is the limited turnover in the playing staff despite the massive spending. The back four that featured in United’s 2‑2 draw with Everton—Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot—was identical to the lineup fielded in Erik ten Hag’s first match in May 2022.
With Marcus Rashford’s return to the left of Fernandes, six starters remained unchanged from that early season encounter. This continuity has resulted in a retention rate of 54.5 percent from the first game of the 2022/23 season to the most recent fixture, the highest of any club in the league. Arsenal, by comparison, retained 36.4 percent of its starting XI, keeping players like Gabriel, Ben White, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka, all of whom have been pivotal in their title‑winning campaign. While stability can be advantageous, United’s retained core includes several players whose performances have been inconsistent at best.
The challenge for Carrick now is to supplement this familiar core, particularly in defence, where the options currently on the bench do not inspire confidence. The lack of fresh, high‑quality alternatives could make it difficult to navigate the congested schedule without a dip in form or an increase in injuries. In summary, Manchester United face a dual dilemma: they must adapt to a far busier calendar that includes up to 67 matches, and they must address the structural imbalances in a squad that, despite a £1 billion outlay, remains thin in key defensive areas.
Carrick’s task is more demanding than it was last season, and the club’s ability to manage rotation, maintain fitness and integrate new signings will be decisive in determining whether their ambitious rebuild can finally deliver sustained success on both domestic and European fronts.