There is tiredness and apathy among Man Utd fans regardless of who the incoming manager is, but there is something Michael Carrick will have immediately that his predecessors didn’t.
After Man Utd’s elimination from the FA Cup, Michael Carrick effectively has a 17-game gauntlet to run between now and the end of the season.
He’ll dive straight into the fire pit as well, with his first two games against Man City and Arsenal, the former of which he’ll oversee with less than three days of training.
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Fortunately, he’ll immediately have what Ruben Amorim missed sorely, while Darren Fletcher didn’t have at all. It should make a big difference.
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates with Amad Diallo during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Michael Carrick will be boosted by Amad and Bryan Mbeumo
Ruben Amorim will have been looking wistfully at the XI Darren Fletcher put out against Burnley for his first game in charge.
The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo returned to action in the first game after Amorim’s departure.
Amorim promised that the team would be better when players return, and the absence of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo hit the team particularly hard.
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That was visible under Fletcher as well, as the right wing struggled to have any shape offensively or defensively without the duo.
In just two games under Fletcher, the right wing spot was taken up in turns by Matheus Cunha, Mount, Fernandes, and Shea Lacey.
Amorim missed the duo sorely; Fletcher didn’t have them at all, but Carrick will be boosted by their return in his very first game.
Amad and Mbeumo are both out of AFCON, and while the Brighton game came too soon for Mbeumo, both are expected to be in the squad vs City.
That’s a huge boost that immediately puts United in a much better position, because both those players provide something that no other player in the squad can.
Amad and Mbeumo will bring a headache with them
Having the talents of Amad and Mbeumo is a big boost for Carrick, but they will also bring along a headache with them in terms of squad selection.
One of the few things that worked about Amorim’s formation was that he could include both Amad and Mbeumo in the starting XI.
On paper, a back four setup has place for only one, unless the other shifts to a position that doesn’t come naturally to him.
Amad looks like the likely candidate to make way again because he’s extremely versatile and double-footed, opening up more positions for him.
Carrick could even go with a fluid attacking four of Bruno Fernandes, Amad, and Bryan Mbeumo behind Matheus Cunha, and bring Sesko off the bench to cause aerial havoc late on.
In any case, having a headache about where to play your best attacking players is much better than having to plan around their absence.
Carrick is walking into a brutal job, but he’ll at least be armed with the weapons that powered Amorim with their presence and blunted Fletcher due to their absence.
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