Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Michael Carrick is set to face a familiar problem in the Champions League when he faces Atletico Madrid, thanks to Ruben Amorim.
The Champions League campaign does not begin with the Atletico game for Man Utd, but to qualify for the top eight, they will want to win all their home games.
Failing that, a win or two will be needed away from home, one of which is Atletico Madrid.
Michael Carrick faced them in pre-season, and Man Utd did well, but their opening game of the UCL, the 2-1 loss against Liverpool, poses a different challenge for Carrick, thanks to Ruben Amorim.
Diego Simeone at Anfield
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick’s wing-back problem
The pre-season vibes around Old Trafford were shattered when United were put to the sword by Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in their final pre-season game.
The problems which emerged in that fixture had mainly to do with Carrick’s inability to cope with a back-three setup and wing-backs.
Hull City went on to pile on the misery in the very next game by tweaking things and fronting up in that same setup.
Carrick will need to get over this slump quickly, because against Liverpool, Diego Simeone set his team up in a similar shape.
To add to Carrick’s worries, their right wing-back scored, much like how Chukwueze terrorised them against Milan.
Atletico lost the game 2-1, but their template was the same as Hull’s and Milan’s, wherein they tried to get the wing-back free in space and then crossed dangerously.
It worked like a charm for Hull, and it worked like a charm for Milan. Simeone already knows this, so Carrick should expect to face the same when they travel to Spain.
Fortunately, by then, he will have the player who can change the dynamics of this issue.
Carlos Baleba can solve Man Utd’s Ruben Amorim-created issue
In both the games mentioned above, Luke Shaw was left on an island in the defensive phase due to the overloads created by the wing-back.
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When United face Atletico, they will have a brilliant, left-footed ground-eater who won’t let Shaw tackle this wing-back threat all alone.
Carlos Baleba is the missing piece to tackle this Ruben Amorim-created problem for United due to his left-footedness and dynamism.
He can run the channels defensively and offensively, helping progress the ball in front of him and defending those channels behind him.
It will also allow Kobbie Mainoo to perform the same role on the right, as he won’t have to worry about covering for two players in midfield.
This is why it was so important for United to get a left-footed ground-eater to finish their midfield rebuild. He helps United in more ways than one.