Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United continue pre-season on Saturday against European champions PSG in Sweden, and Michael Carrick will be encouraged by the French side’s most recent outing.
PSG are undoubtedly the best team in Europe right now after winning back-to-back Champions Leagues, and have arguably the best manager in the world, Luis Enrique.
Enrique was United fans’ dream appointment, and there were attempts made before Michael Carrick ultimately got the job permanently in May.
But now Carrick has the chance to send a statement by beating the reigning European champions, and there is good reason to believe he will.
Getty Images
FBL-ESP-FRIENDLY-MALLORCA-PSG
Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP via Getty Images
PSG lose to Mallorca ahead of Manchester United clash
First and foremost, PSG are only in their first week of pre-season games with a really inexperienced side, which has only two first-teamers, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
But Enrique looked very frustrated to have lost 3-0 to mid-table La Liga side Mallorca on Wednesday night, with the damage all done by the Spaniards within 30 minutes of game time.
After taking the lead in the 21st minute, Mallorca were 3-0 up by the time the 51st minute arrived.
This obviously isn’t a result that suggests PSG are set for a disaster season, but it should be good news for Michael Carrick.
Getty Images
Michael Carrick will want a statement victory against PSG
Carrick will be chomping at the bit to face this PSG side on Saturday, as it could be an absolute mismatch.
United are much further along in pre-season preparations, have a much stronger team to choose from, and all of these points to Carrick getting a big win.
Only so much stock can be put into pre-season games, but if United manages to thrash PSG, it would be a statement and confidence builder just two weeks away from the league season kicking off.
United’s team against Atletico were brilliant and are so much further along in their preparations compared to this PSG side, fitter and more ready.
Additionally, United have Bruno Fernandes, Youri Tielemans, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Matheus Cunha, and Senne Lammens all back against PSG.
Carrick’s side should run through this PSG side right now, which sends a real message.
But there is also the negative side to this.
United would have hoped that PSG, two weeks before the Premier League season starts, would be a big test for Carrick’s side, but it isn’t looking likely to pan out this way.
But Carrick can only play what is in front of him, so this needs to be a big win to build more momentum.