Manchester United’s defensive problem is becoming more and more prevalent; however, their solution may be a lot closer to home than they think.
Manchester United have run into their first hitch since Michael Carrick arrived in the dugout. Since Carrick replaced Rúben Amorim in late January, the former midfielder has made his mark as caretaker manager.
Before last week’s Newcastle fixture, United had not lost a single game under Carrick, the Englishman helping the Reds climb to third in the Premier League table.
While it’s clear the Manchester side have come back to show everyone in English football they remain a force to be reckoned with, their 2-1 defeat to the Magpies at St James’ Park reminded everyone that Carrick and his men can’t just sit back, with the squad still needing a lot of work.
With a loss on his record, Carrick’s suitability for the permanent position is now being questioned more than ever. The 44-year-old has a lot to consider as they prepare to host Aston Villa, as concerns have been raised over the Reds’ backline.
Injuries causing United to stretch their defence
When Carrick first stepped back into Old Trafford, he had the luxury of an incredibly strong and well-experienced centre-back partnership in Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, but things don’t come easy in football, with the duo separated by injury during the Everton clash.
Although fans and players alike left the Hill Dickinson relatively happy after a last-minute goal from Benjamin Sesko saw the Reds take all three points, an injury to their number six heightened anxiety as another gap in Carrick’s defensive options was created.
Former Bayern Munich star Matthijs de Ligt has also been out of the matchday squad for quite some time now. The Dutch International has been sidelined since late November after experiencing an injury to his lower back during United’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. The defender has now missed over 15 consecutive matches, and his absence from the pitch has most definitely been noticed.
With Carrick’s initial choices out of action, he’s had to turn to younger members of the squad, with 20-year-old Leny Yoro making his way back into the matchday lineup. Unfortunately, the youngster has been unable to find his feet after a rocky comeback.
The most recent Crystal Palace clash highlighted exactly that: Yoro lost his man, which led to the Eagles netting the first goal. Yoro’s performance was slightly improved in the Newcastle game, yet he has not fully redeemed himself, raising questions about whether he’s the right man for the job.
Hope with Yoro is not entirely lost, with the consensus being that an increase in the Frenchman’s minutes will help him regain his confidence for game days. Nevertheless, this does not mean Carricks defemsive problems are solved.
Want to stay as up-to-date as possible on the latest Manchester United updates? Add UtdDistrict as a preferred source on Google for news you can rely on.
Squad depth is put to the test
Tyrell Malacia returned to the pitch on Sunday after a lengthy time spent on the sidelines, and his lack of minutes this season was more than evident. Malacia was unable to get William Osula under control; the Newcastle striker cashed in on Malacia’s lapse, scoring the winner and, furthermore, resulting in United’s first loss in 10 fixtures.
You don’t have to have any experience managing a Premier League team to know that Carrick’s decision to sub on Malacia wasn’t the smartest move, especially when considering there was an arguably stronger option on the bench.
Read More: “Want to change…” – Manchester United squad reaction to poor Newcastle United performance amid Michael Carrick decision
Ayden Heaven may only be 19, but he surely has made his mark on Manchester United. Although a favourite under Amorim, Heaven has seen his matchday opportunities become far less consistent since Carrick’s arrival.
As a defender whose known to sit left, it’s incredibly confusing why Carrick didn’t opt for Heaven. Since transferring from Arsenal in February of last year, the youngster has made 13 Premier League appearances, with his most memorable one coming during United’s Boxing Day triumph over Newcastle United, when he won player of the match after an unstoppable shift in the Reds’ backline.
This then raises an even bigger question: why did Carrick choose Malacia? While his preferred position is on the left side of the pitch, Heaven can also fill in at centre-back, giving Carrick a replacement for either Yoro or Maguire if necessary, with it almost a mystery why the England youth international was left unused during Sunday’s game.
Heaven focused on development
Heaven itself knows he has to remain patient with several big names in the United squad. After a match against Wolverhampton Wanders Heaven was praised for his performance yet still remained humble.
The defender recently told reporters he feels he’s “had to be really patient,” and while he was starting to feel confident in Amorim’s trust in him, he has to completely regain that under Carrick.
“I feel like the manager is trusting me more now. I feel like whenever I’m playing, I’m getting better each time. I just want to develop and show what I can do.”
As Carrick’s options become more limited, it’s only a matter of time before the United boss has to give Heaven the chance to prove himself. As United prepare for a challenging fixture against Aston Villa we can only hope that Heaven will be making the right moves in training to earn him some minutes on Sunday.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.