Since Michael Carrick took the reins in January, Manchester United have undergone a dramatic turnaround, climbing from a seventh‑place position to finish third and securing a return to the Champions League. That resurgence, however, will be put to the ultimate test this weekend when United face their city rivals in the Manchester derby – a match that arrives just three days after a dominant 4-0 victory over Sabah.
The fixture marks the first real gauge of how the squad will cope with a considerably tighter calendar, and it raises two pressing questions: does United possess the depth required to handle the added workload, and has the club’s massive rebuilding effort overlooked a critical component of the team? 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 played only 40 matches across all competitions.
This was the joint‑fewest games of any Premier League side and the club’s lowest total since the 1913/14 season. The sparse schedule allowed Carrick to keep his key players fresh while rivals were forced to rotate more frequently. In fact, between his appointment and the end of the Premier League campaign, only five other clubs made fewer changes to their starting line‑ups than United. That level of consistency is unlikely to be replicated this season.
Thursday’s clash with Sabah kicks off a schedule that guarantees at least eight Champions League fixtures, meaning United could end the campaign having contested as many as 67 matches in total. Carrick has spoken positively about the prospect of a busier calendar, noting that while training sessions may be trimmed as the season progresses, player involvement will inevitably rise. He also highlighted that most of his squad are now accustomed to the rigours of European football, a stark contrast to the previous year.
Nevertheless, the return to continental competition remains a litmus test for the squad’s quality and depth. The last time United balanced domestic and European duties – the 2024/25 season – they finished a disappointing 15th in the league.
This season, however, the club appears better equipped to handle the strain, having poured a substantial sum of money into the team. During the most recent summer transfer window United spent a modest £163 million on new arrivals, but the cumulative outlay since 2022 exceeds £1 billion, making them the Premier League’s biggest net spender over that period with a net spend of £769.5 million.
Despite the sheer volume of cash, the spending has been uneven. This summer’s acquisitions were almost entirely midfield‑focused, with the signings of Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans forming the headline trio.
By contrast, a year earlier the club’s expenditure was directed toward the attack, bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Defence, by comparison, has been largely neglected. Only 19 percent of the total £1 billion investment has been allocated to defensive players – the third‑lowest proportion among Premier League clubs over the same timeframe, surpassed only by Liverpool and Everton – while a hefty 42 percent was spent on forwards.
The consequence is a squad that, while stronger in certain areas, still lacks depth and quality in others. United’s attacking line‑up is rated as the third‑most valuable among the league’s traditional “big six”, yet their midfielders and defenders rank at the bottom of that valuation.
Even within the attack there are lingering uncertainties. United boast a plethora of supporting forwards – Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad Diallo – but they rely on a single out‑and‑out striker, Benjamin Sesko, to lead the line.
Moreover, the team still lacks a genuine creative alternative to Bruno Fernandes, leaving Carrick with limited options should Fernandes be unavailable. Another striking observation is the limited turnover in the playing staff despite the billion‑pound outlay. Astonishingly, 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. Marcus Rashford’s return to the left of Fernandes means six starters remained unchanged, suggesting a degree of stagnation despite the club’s heavy spending.
United’s retention rate, calculated from the opening game of the 2022/23 season to the most recent fixture, stands at 54.5 percent – the highest of any Premier League side, with Arsenal trailing at 36.4 percent. Continuity can be advantageous, but the comparison with Arsenal underscores the point.
While Arsenal’s retained players – Gabriel, Ben White, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka – have been instrumental in delivering a title‑winning campaign, many of United’s long‑standing starters are more often associated with underperformance. This raises concerns for Carrick as he prepares to navigate a far more demanding schedule, especially given the limited depth in defence, a department that currently offers few inspiring alternatives.
All these factors combine to make Carrick’s task considerably tougher than it was last season. He must balance the need for rotation to keep players fresh with the desire to maintain a settled core, all while integrating new signings and addressing the glaring imbalance in the squad’s composition.
The upcoming Manchester derby will serve as an early indicator of how well United can adapt to these challenges and whether the club’s massive financial investment will finally translate into sustained success on both domestic and European fronts.