Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Michael Carrick left Old Trafford on Thursday evening with a more meaningful task completed after Manchester United thrashed Sabah 4-0 in the Champions League.
Manchester United were the clear favourites against Sabah and the Red Devils proved their dominance over the current Azerbaijan Premier League champions.
Goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko in the first half and Lisandro Martinez in the second half ensured United’s one-sided win over Sabah.
While Sabah were the biggest underdogs at Old Trafford on Thursday, the Azerbaijan-based side were the perfect opponents for Michael Carrick.
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Manchester United's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Senne Lammens, Manchester United's Moroccan defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United's French defender #15 Leny Yoro, Manchester United's English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (front row from L to R) Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder #19 Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United's Belgian midfielder #18 Youri Tielemans, Manchester United's Argentinian defender #06 Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United's Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu and Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes poses for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Sabah FK at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 10, 2026.
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick avoided an eight-match non-clean sheet run for Man Utd after the Sabah fixture
Manchester United fans will be thrilled with the scoreline in the Red Devils’ Champions League opener, but the clean sheet was a bigger milestone.
Ahead of the Sabah encounter, United had faced a seven-match problem under Red Devils head coach Michael Carrick after failing to keep a clean sheet.
The clean-sheet dilemma was not based on United’s opening three Premier League matches of the 2026-27 campaign, but it dated back to the pre-season summer tour.
Before Thursday’s 4-0 Champions League win at Old Trafford, the Red Devils’ last clean sheet had been in July after United’s 5-0 demolition of Rosenborg in Norway.
United’s inability to keep a clean sheet and the potential to extend their ‘cursed’ run to eight matches had been hanging over Carrick’s head like a dark cloud.
The Red Devils did come close to blowing their clean sheet against Sabah after they were tested by their opponents at different moments in the Champions League tie.
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Man Utd’s clean sheet is the perfect springboard for Michael Carrick’s preparations for the Man City match
United manager Carrick knows how important the Manchester derby is this weekend after the Red Devils’ mixed start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
The Red Devils dropped valuable points to Everton and Hull City and United’s only Premier League win came against Ipswich Town after their 5-2 comeback victory.
However, Carrick can take away two major positives ahead of the Manchester City match on Sunday evening after United’s scoreline and clean sheet against Sabah.
The clean sheet will also be a major positive for Senne Lammens, who had come under some criticism for his performance in United’s 2-2 draw against Everton.
United must no longer look back to July for their previous clean sheet and Carrick now has time to focus on what is ahead for the Red Devils this season.
The Red Devils and Manchester City’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford is slated for a 4:30pm kick-off time in the UK on Sunday evening.