Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United proved that they aren’t far off competing at the top level by drawing against PSG, and Michael Carrick deserves immense credit.
Playing against the reigning Champions League winners, Man Utd can count themselves highly unlucky to only draw against PSG.
They created the better chances, and largely nullified Luis Enrique’s men despite having injury worries and their fourth-choice goalkeeper in the net.
Michael Carrick deserves immense credit for the newest area of improvement that Enrique had no answer to.
Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester United - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick has drilled Man Utd out of possession
So far, every pre-season game has shown a new layer to Carrick’s idea, barring the Wrexham game which was more of an academy showcase.
The team played out from the back against Rosenborg, then showed brilliant counter-pressing against Atletico Madrid.
There was a different skill-set required against PSG, who like to dominate possession, and Carrick’s men were up to the task.
This game tested United’s shape and approach out of possession, and in a way, was a throwback to what gave Carrick success last season.
United still pressed high, but once they realised how PSG wanted the game to be, they quickly retreated into their patented mid-block.
Despite a makeshift look to the defence, fourth-choice goalkeeper Dermot Mee didn’t have a save to make against PSG’s star-studded team.
They did so by expertly closing the spaces between the lines, initiating the first line of counter-press before falling into shape quickly, and protecting their box with aggression.
The result was a game where PSG finished with nearly 60% possession, but all the major chances fell to Man Utd.
This was a Carrick special, and it speaks volumes about how well he has drilled this team that United never looked like they were just hanging on.
The game could have gone on for another 90 minutes and Mee would have kept his clean sheet.
Man Utd are extremely flexible tactically
The days of Ruben Amorim look like an era ago after seeing United bring out their 2025/26 version in the second half against PSG.
Manchester United v AFC Wrexham - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
In three games, they have now shown three different facets of their game, all varying wildly on the tactical spectrum.
This is a team that can play controlled possession, but retains the ability to be deadly on the counter. They press from the front, but relish throwback defending.
That is the kind of tactical flexibility that comes in clutch during a season, because the opponents simply don’t know what to plan for.
A deep-block will get eviscerated with central overloads, and a possession-heavy team will get scythed through on the counter.
The board need to back Carrick, because he’s building something special.