Gary Neville’s recent comments after Manchester United’s 2-2 stalemate with Everton have put a spotlight on the pressure mounting on Michael Carrick. "It puts a bit of pressure on United. They've got City next week and European games starting in midweek," Neville observed, and while it’s only September, his warning feels prescient.
The manager now faces a crucial week that could shape the trajectory of the entire season. When the 2026/27 Premier League schedule was released, United were handed what analysts called the easiest first six fixtures.
Yet, halfway through that stretch, the team has already surrendered more points than it has collected. The upcoming calendar only grows more demanding. As Neville correctly notes, United launch their Champions League adventure on Thursday night against Azerbaijan’s Sabah, and three days later they meet Manchester City in the first derby of the campaign.
Given the contrasting nature of those two opponents, it would be logical for Carrick to consider rotating his squad for the Thursday match. That decision would provide a first real glimpse of the depth beyond his preferred eleven. The question, however, is whether United possess a bench strong enough to compete on multiple fronts. Transfer market activity over the past few years has left United with a roster that struggles to handle a three‑games‑a‑week tempo without over‑relying on the same core players.
Transfermarkt lists United as having the second‑largest squad in the Premier League, but sheer numbers mask a serious imbalance. The club ranks first in forward depth, yet sits only eighth in midfield and tenth in defence. When you drill down to specialist positions, the picture worsens: United are ninth in right‑back depth and a worrying 18th at left‑back, a spot that has been a constant talking point because of Luke Shaw’s injury record. United can hardly blame anyone but themselves for this shortfall.
Since 2022, only Everton and Liverpool have invested less in their defensive lines than the Red Devils. The lack of balanced spending has created a squad where the starting eleven is noticeably superior to the players who would fill in when rotation is required.
Financial constraints have not stopped United from becoming the biggest net spenders in the league since 2022, yet the money has not translated into genuine competition for places. The Everton match offers a clear illustration. Carrick made his first changes at the 70‑minute mark, and the data from those substitutions tells a telling story.
After the changes, United’s positional play shifted further into the opponent’s half, but the quality of their passing in the final third deteriorated, leading to fewer clear‑cut chances. Their involvement in duels dropped, inviting more pressure and allowing the opposition to generate a higher volume of opportunities. It is important to contextualise those numbers: Everton were chasing the game, and the dynamics of the final twenty minutes differ from the first seventy.
Nonetheless, the pattern reveals a broader issue—when Carrick turns to fringe players, the output falls short. Benjamin Šeško stands out as a positive exception, but a single impact sub cannot compensate for a thin bench. The same trend appears in the match against Hull City. While some observers might argue United improved after the substitutions, the reality is that four members of the starting XI from the Hull game were dropped in the following two fixtures.
Carrick was forced to rely on less‑fit players at the start of that period, and the adjustments he made nudged the team closer to the line‑up that would later face Ipswich and Everton. The crux of the problem is that even modest changes—well under half of the starting eleven—result in a noticeable dip in performance. The players who are called upon must either rise to the occasion or expose Carrick’s vulnerability for the remainder of the season. Young talents such as Leny Yoro, Patrick Dorgu, Andrey Santos, and Joshua Zirkzee will view Thursday’s Champions League tie as a golden chance to cement their place in the squad.
All of those prospects would love to feature in the derby, but securing a positive start to the European campaign is paramount. The pressure on them to deliver, should they be selected, matches the pressure on the established starters who are almost certainly destined for the City clash. Neville has urged Carrick to earn the trust of the supporters, and the same expectation falls on the fringe players. A win in the Champions League could soothe some of the anxiety that hangs over Old Trafford, while a poor performance would only deepen the sense of unease.
In summary, Carrick faces a delicate balancing act. The squad’s depth, particularly in defence and midfield, is insufficient for a rigorous rotation schedule. The data from recent matches shows a clear drop‑off when peripheral players are introduced, underscoring the need for either rapid development of the younger cohort or strategic reinforcement in the transfer market. The upcoming Thursday fixture against Sabah will be the first true test of United’s bench, and the outcome could dictate whether Carrick can afford to rotate without jeopardising the team’s ambitions in the league, the derby, and Europe.