Michael Carrick’s arrival at Manchester United in January sparked a dramatic turnaround, lifting the team from a seventh‑place standing to third and securing a coveted spot back in the Champions League. His early impact was undeniable, yet the new season presents a far more demanding itinerary, with the club now forced to navigate three matches each week. The question looms: can United sustain their momentum under such pressure, and have they overlooked a crucial component of their squad during this massive rebuilding phase?
Last campaign United’s fixture list was unusually light. With no European commitments and early eliminations from both the Carabao Cup (by Grimsby Town) and the FA Cup (by Brighton), the Red Devils managed only 40 competitive games across all tournaments. This was the joint‑fewest appearances of any Premier League side and the lowest total for Manchester United since the 1913/14 season.
The reduced workload allowed Carrick to keep his core players fresh while rivals were forced to rotate more frequently. In fact, between his appointment and the end of that Premier League season, only five other clubs made fewer changes to their starting line‑ups than United. Such stability is unlikely to be replicated this year.
The upcoming Champions League tie against Sabah on Thursday marks the first of eight guaranteed European fixtures, and the club could end up playing as many as 67 matches across all competitions. Carrick has spoken positively about the increased intensity, noting that while training sessions may decrease once the season is in full swing, player involvement will rise dramatically. He also highlighted that the majority of his squad are now accustomed to the rigours of continental football, a stark contrast to the previous season’s domestic‑only focus.
Nevertheless, the return to Europe remains a stern test. The last time United juggled European duties—during the 2024/25 season—they slumped to a 15th‑place finish in the league, underscoring the potential pitfalls of a congested calendar. To avoid a repeat, the squad must be equipped with depth and quality across every department. Financially, United have been among the most aggressive spenders in recent years.
The summer transfer window saw a moderate £163 million outlay, but the cumulative investment since 2022 tops £1 billion, with a net spend of £769.5 million—the highest of any Premier League club over that period. However, this spending has been uneven. The latest acquisitions focused almost entirely on midfield reinforcement, bringing in Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos, and Youri Tielemans.
By contrast, a year earlier the club poured money into its attack, signing Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. Defensive recruitment has lagged behind.
Only 19 percent of the total £1 billion investment since 2022 has been allocated to defenders, the third‑lowest proportion among Premier League clubs, surpassed only by Liverpool and Everton. This is stark when compared with the 42 percent spent on forwards. The imbalance has produced a squad that, while bolstered in certain areas, still suffers from a lack of quality and depth elsewhere.
United’s attacking line‑up ranks as the third‑most valuable among the league’s traditional big six, yet their midfield and defensive units are rated as the least valuable. Even within the forward line, uncertainties persist. United boast a plethora of supporting attackers—such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Amad Diallo—but rely heavily on a single out‑and‑out striker, Benjamin Sesko, to lead the line. Moreover, the team lacks a genuine creative alternative to Bruno Fernandes, leaving Carrick with limited options to diversify his attacking play.
Despite the hefty financial outlay, the squad’s turnover has been surprisingly low. Remarkably, the back four that started the 2‑2 draw with Everton—Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire, and Diogo Dalot—was identical to the defensive line‑up fielded in Erik ten Hag’s first match in May 2022. Adding Marcus Rashford’s return to the left of Fernandes, six of the starting eleven remained unchanged from the previous season, contributing to a perception that the side has become stale despite the influx of cash.
United’s retention rate of 54.5 percent—from the opening game of the 2022/23 season to the most recent fixture—stands as the highest in the league, with Arsenal trailing at 36.4 percent. While continuity can foster cohesion, the comparison is telling: Arsenal’s retained players—Gabriel, Ben White, Martin Ødegaard, and Bukayo Saka—have been instrumental in delivering a Premier League title. In contrast, many of United’s retained starters are more often associated with underperformance. For Carrick, the looming challenge is clear.
The upcoming schedule will test the depth of his squad, especially in defence, where the available alternatives have yet to inspire confidence. The combination of a congested fixture list, an uneven spending pattern, and a lack of fresh talent in key areas makes his managerial task considerably tougher than the previous season. Fans can catch United’s Champions League clash against Sabah live on Sky Sports’ digital platforms, with kickoff slated for 8 p.m.
on Thursday. Additionally, a Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million, with free entry for participants. In summary, Manchester United’s £1 billion rebuild has delivered notable progress, but the club now faces its sternest examination yet: maintaining form across a demanding calendar while addressing the glaring defensive deficiencies that have persisted despite massive investment.
The coming months will reveal whether Carrick can adapt his tactics, rotate his squad effectively, and finally translate financial power into sustained on‑field success.