Manchester United are preparing for a change in the dugout for their meeting with Sabah FK on Thursday.
The Red Devils return to the Champions League for the first time in three years, with Michael Carrick having earned that opportunity after transforming United last season.
Carrick only lost two of his 17 competitive matches during the run-in after replacing Ruben Amorim and eventually guided United into the Champions League places.
This season has started less smoothly.
United opened with an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Hull City before responding with a 5-2 win over Ipswich Town and then drawing 2-2 away at Everton.
Some supporters have questions Carrick’s ability to alter games tactically when United lose control.
However, the manager was also left without the defensive reinforcement many expected during the summer.
Left-back was one obvious area for improvement, particularly given Luke Shaw’s injury history and United’s vulnerability down that side at different points already this season.
Attention now turns to Sabah, but there will actually be another Manchester United manager taking charge when the two clubs meet earlier in the day.
New manager in dugout for Manchester United vs Sabah FK
According to the Daily Mail, Adam Lawrence has been chosen to manage Manchester United’s Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.
United’s youngsters face Sabah at 2pm on Thursday, six hours before Carrick’s first-team meet the Azerbaijani side at Old Trafford.
The decision came after international discussions over whether Lawrence or Darren Fletcher would take the role.
Fletcher knows all about stepping into the senior dugout himself.
After Amorim was dismissed in January, he temporarily took charge of United, overseeing a 2-2 Premier League draw at Burnley before a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Lawrence ultimately got the Youth League job and will continue alongside his Under-21 responsibilities.
He already has history in the competition, having previously overseen United’s Youth League campaign in 2024, and his latest appointment gives him another important role within the club’s development pathway.