Benjamin Sesko and Bruno Fernandes might be on cloud nine under Michael Carrick right now, but the same cannot be said for the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte at Manchester United.
Michael Carrick has overseen an impressive seven Premier League wins from nine matches in the Old Trafford hot seat since his January appointment as interim boss.
The 44-year-old United legend is not alone in enjoying the high moments, with the likes of Casemiro and Senne Lammens continuing to thrive under his influence.
But Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte are only two of the four ‘continued strugglers’ under interim boss Carrick and Manchester United’s ‘revolution’ post-Ruben Amorim.
READ MORE: Forget Steve Holland, Leny Yoro says Man Utd made another ‘really important’ addition to Michael Carrick’s staff
Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee in action during a first-team Manchester United training session at the Carrington training complex in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick looks on prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
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1. Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee cannot break into the Manchester United starting XI ahead of Benjamin Sesko and is behind Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order for forwards.
Michael Carrick’s tactics at Man Utd will alternate between Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo leading the frontline and it leaves little wiggle room for Zirkzee.
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Zirkzee had already been struggling under former United manager Ruben Amorim and the Netherlands striker is truly surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old Dutch forward has not made a single start under Carrick in the last nine Premier League matches and has only notched up 11 minutes under him so far.
READ MORE:Micah Richards thinks Michael Carrick’s handling of Benjamin Sesko is comparable to four more Man Utd stars
2. Manuel Ugarte
Unlike forgotten Manchester United striker Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte has had better luck when it comes to his minutes on the pitch under interim head coach Carrick.
The 24-year-old Uruguayan midfielder has picked up 56 minutes in Carrick’s nine-match reign so far, but he faces the same issue as Zirkzee: not starting for United.
Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are the two preferred picks for Carrick’s midfield pivot and have provided much-needed stability to the overall balance of the starting XI.
But Ugarte’s defensive midfield abilities — his ‘destroyer’ role that he is known for — have made him a less desirable pick compared with Kobbie Mainoo or Casemiro.
READ MORE: Premier League vs Ligue 1: Leny Yoro identifies one major hurdle he had to overcome at Man Utd
Loss to 10-men Everton under Amorim vs Loss to 10-men Newcastle under Carrick
Which defeat is worse? Did Carrick repeat any Amorim mistake from that game?
Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick as Man Utd managers
Ruben Amorim vs Everton and Michael Carrick vs Newcastle as Man Utd managers
3. Altay Bayindir
It is safe to say that Altay Bayindir was already struggling before Carrick returned to Old Trafford and his situation has far from changed in the post-Ruben Amorim era.
Altay Bayindir had his chance under Amorim earlier in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign after Andre Onana lost his place as the Man Utd No 1.
However, Senne Lammens’ 2025 arrival on deadline day and emergence as Man Utd’s replacement for Andre Onana all but added to Bayindir’s limited playing time.
Carrick is nine matches into his reign and Bayindir has not featured once — and the same is likely to be said about the remaining eight matches of his interim spell.
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4. Tyrell Malacia
While Altay Bayindir had his chance under Amorim this season, Tyrell Malacia was basically in the former Man Utd manager’s squad because he had to be there.
Tyrell Malacia’s Man Utd loan exit to Elche collapsed on deadline day last September and the 26-year-old Dutchman remained at Old Trafford for the current season.
With United being reduced to a 40-match season for the 2025-26 campaign, Malacia’s woes only intensified amid the Red Devils’ limited fixture run.
Malacia has only managed two minutes under Carrick in a somewhat surprising cameo and the forgotten United man is likely to exit the club this summer.
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