Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Michael Carrick had his first taste in the Champions League as a manager long before Manchester United’s upcoming encounter with Sabah on Thursday.
The 45-year-old had been on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff at Old Trafford before he temporarily replaced his fellow Manchester United legend in the dugout.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as Man Utd manager in 2021 and Michael Carrick was installed as interim boss ahead of Ralf Rangnick’s arrival at the club.
Carrick oversaw two wins and a draw from three matches in the 2021-22 season, including managing United in the Premier League and the Champions League.
READ MORE: Senne Lammens ditched his most important asset against Everton, despite its previous impact for Man Utd
Marcus Rashford and Michael Carrick during the Champions League match between Villarreal vs Manchester United at the Estadio de la Ceramica in 2021 in Castellon Spain.
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
Getty Images
Harry Maguire is one of the only longstanding Man Utd players who was in Michael Carrick’s last starting XI vs Villarreal
Michael Carrick’s first interim reign kicked off with Manchester United’s away trip to face La Liga side Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Spain.
United were top of Group F going into the 2021 Champions League clash, which was the Red Devils’ fifth match of the old six-fixture stage of UEFA’s competition.
Harry Maguire is the only active United first-team player to have made the starting XI for the Red Devils’ 2-0 win against Villarreal in the Champions League tie.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock for the Red Devils in the 78th minute before Jadon Sancho ensured United’s 2-0 win over Villarreal in the 90th minute in Spain.
Outside of Harry Maguire, who was even Man Utd captain at that time, the 10 remaining players from the 2021 starting XI have all left Old Trafford now.
Man Utd’s Champions League starting XI vs Villarreal in 2021:
GK: David de Gea
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
CB: Victor Lindelof
CB: Harry Maguire (C)
LB: Alex Telles
CM: Scott McTominay
CM: Fred
RW: Jadon Sancho
CAM: Donny van de Beek
LW: Anthony Martial
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo
READ MORE: How Michael Carrick’s three Premier League results in first full season compares with past Man Utd managers
Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are among some of the other Man Utd players who did feature vs Villarreal
United manager Carrick did turn to his bench for the Villarreal match and brought both Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford on in the second half.
Tom Heaton, Diogo Dalot and Amad Diallo are still at the club now and were on the bench for United’s 2-0 win, but none of the three players featured in the 90 minutes.
Man Utd’s substitutes vs Villarreal in 2021:
Bruno Fernandes
Marcus Rashford
Nemanja Matic
Juan Mata
Dean Henderson
Tom Heaton
Eric Bailly
Diogo Dalot
Jesse Lingard
Amad Diallo
United’s encounter with Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday will be the Red Devils’ first Champions League encounter since the 2023-24 campaign under Erik ten Hag.