Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images
Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images
Manchester United under Michael Carrick and Paris Saint-Germain under Luis Enrique are about to have two incredibly different experiences in their respective pre-season campaigns.
Michael Carrick has already overseen three matches on the Manchester United pre-season tour, which kicked off ahead of the World Cup final last month.
The 45-year-old United manager has overseen wins against Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid and a loss against Wrexham this summer ahead of the PSG encounter.
However, Luis Enrique’s men have not kicked off their pre-season campaign — at the time of writing — before their friendly match against Man Utd this weekend.
READ MORE: Luis Enrique’s Man Utd ‘world-class’ pick can’t be tested vs PSG, Michael Carrick has question to answer
Luis Enrique during the Champions League 2025-26 round-of-16 second-leg match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge in 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Eddie Keogh – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
The World Cup impact on PSG’s pre-season schedule
PSG had a late start to pre-season last summer after their participation in the Club World Cup delayed the start of their preparations until 6th August.
The Champions League holders did kick off their pre-season earlier this summer at the Campus PSG in Poissy, France, after returning to training on 27th July.
However, PSG boss Luis Enrique has been left waiting for his different first-team players to return to the Paris-based club due to the World Cup tournament.
The immediate hit of fixture congestion for PSG in August has reduced their ‘tour’ to a brief pre-season
PSG will be back in competitive action in early August after their success in the 2025-26 campaign under former Barcelona and Spain manager Enrique.
The Ligue 1 outfit will face defending Europa League champions Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup at the Red Bull Arena in Austria on 12th August.
PSG had booked their place in the Super Cup after Enrique’s men defeated Premier League side Arsenal in the Champions League final in May last season.
The Parisian side’s successful title defence in the 2025-26 campaign also means that they will face French Cup winners RC Lens in the Trophee des Champions clash.
27th July 2026: Pre-season training (Campus PSG)
12th August 2026: UEFA Super Cup — vs Aston Villa (Red Bull Arena)
16th August 2026: Trophee des Champions — vs Lens (Stade Bollaert-Delelis)
23rd August 2026: Ligue 1 — vs Rennais (Parc des Princes)
READ MORE: I think Matheus Cunha is going to enjoy World Cup ‘bounce,’ but I want to see how another Man Utd star responds
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Who else are PSG facing outside of Man Utd in their pre-season this summer?
PSG will return to action on Wednesday and the Ligue 1 club will travel to the Mallorca Son Moix Stadium to face Spanish side Real Mallorca.
Following the encounter with Real Mallorca, the French champions will visit Sweden and will face Manchester United at the Nya Ullevi in Gothenburg on Saturday.