Photo by Eddie Keogh - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Eddie Keogh - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s Man Utd will face PSG up next, and his opponents have already absolved him of his only hiccup of the pre-season so far.
The results don’t really matter in pre-season, but Michael Carrick will still be delighted at how his side bounced back from the loss against Wrexham.
Two convincing wins against Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid have Man Utd looking in good shape, especially as more players return to training.
In the process, PSG’s latest pre-season result has freed Carrick from the only hiccup of this pre-season.
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United speaks to the media prior to the during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and Atletico de Madrid at Strawberry Arena on August 01, 2026 in Solna, Sweden.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
PSG vs Mallorca adds context to Man Utd’s pre-season
Unlike United, PSG will play just two pre-season fixtures before having their first competitive game of the season against Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup.
Therefore, Luis Enrique doesn’t have much choice but for his players to gain match fitness through competitive games.
That issue is chronic, as the chasm in fitness was exposed by their recent pre-season opponents, and in the most unexpected way.
A fixture against Spanish side Mallorca kicked off PSG’s pre-season, and the reigning Champions League winners were blown away 3-0.
They were outfought, out-thought, and out-played by a much fitter side who played with the knowledge that this was their chance to topple a giant.
Enrique said as much after the game, “This match was about improving our physical condition. It’s not the result we would have liked, but that’s football.”
Now use this context and think back to United’s first game of the pre-season, where they were the PSG to Wrexham’s Mallorca.
Wrexham had a one-game advantage over United that day, and most of their players were back with the first team as they didn’t have many World Cup call-ups/
Still, United played well and were unlucky to lose 0-1, a result which still prompted needless doom and gloom among a section of Man Utd fans.
Now that PSG have looked much, much worse due to lack of match fitness and squad strength, it should absolve Carrick of the only hiccup of the pre-season so far.
Michael Carrick has been faultless
How much the board has backed Carrick is up for debate, but the Man Utd manager has been largely faultless so far.
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The team has clearly evolved from last season, as there is more counter-pressing, aggressive build-up play, and confidence in possession.
He has managed all of this in a World Cup-affected first pre-season for him at Old Trafford, empowering youngsters in the process.
The challenge will be to translate these performances to when there are points at stake, but he has shown nothing so far to fear that that won’t happen.
Man Utd have improved with every game, and Carrick has been at the heart of that change. He has been faultless so far.