Tactical substitutions and Marcus Rashford’s absence from the pitch during the Sabah rout offer a telling glimpse into Michael Carrick's attacking blueprint for the looming Manchester derby.
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Manchester United's Champions League campaign got off to a blinding start on Thursday evening as goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Šeško, and Lisandro Martínez capped off a fantastic 4-0 Old Trafford win against Sabah FK.
Following a disheartening 2-2 draw with Everton on the weekend, United have now scored nine goals in two games at the Theatre of Dreams, and will next welcome cross-town rivals Manchester City in the club's first major clash of the season.
While United have only managed to secure four points from a possible nine in the opening three Premier League fixtures, City are sitting top of the table with three wins out of three so far, and will be looking to push on.
With Pep Guardiola no longer the man in the opposition dugout for City at Old Trafford, new manager Enzo Maresca will have a tough task managing what will be an incredible atmosphere at Old Trafford, while Michael Carrick will want to get back to winning ways in England's top flight after a mixed start.
Carrick hints at United's front line vs City
United have a plethora of options in attack this campaign, with the front line and attacking midfield stacked with at least two good players in all four areas of the pitch. Against Sabah, it was Cunha, Šeško, and Bryan Mbeumo, the 2025 summer signings, who started.
While this would not do much to tell fans who could be starting on Sunday afternoon, Carrick's actions in the second half have left a big hint as to how he may be thinking of lining up his side in attack at Old Trafford.
In the 64th and 72nd minute, Šeško and Mbeumo were respectively withdrawn, while Matheus Cunha played the full 90 minutes. To add to this, while Marcus Rashford did make the bench for the fixture, he didn't make it onto the field, suggesting he is being preserved.
Rashford came off after around 70 minutes against Everton last Sunday with what was described as 'feeling a bit of something', so while his inclusion in the matchday squad shows he could play, United's four-goal riot meant he was not needed.
With Cunha playing the full 90 minutes while the other three either did not play or were withdrawn, it could be assumed that Carrick may start Rashford, Šeško, and Mbeumo, with Cunha coming off the bench in the second half.
Benjamin Sesko was selected to be interviewed straight after the final whistle, where he discussed both his performance and his team's performance against Sabah on his Champions League debut for Manchester United.roundtable.ioBenjamin Šeško Sends Man City Warning Shot After “Important” Moment vs Sabah
Benjamin Sesko was selected to be interviewed straight after the final whistle, where he discussed both his performance and his team's performance against Sabah on his Champions League debut for Manchester United.
United already know how to beat City
Mbeumo has two goals and an assist already this season, Šeško has two goals in his last two appearances, and Rashford has been United's most electric forward. Playing this front three makes complete sense against City, purely based on form.
However, when thinking about the tactical battle expected at Old Trafford, with City averaging 70% possession in their first four games of the season, these three forwards offer what United will need dearly: pace.
Maresca's side will look to dominate the midfield battle and overwhelm United in their defensive third, so Carrick will need to play his three quickest forwards, the aforementioned trio, to hit City back with the most devastating counter-attacks possible.
Fernandes is known for being brilliant in transition with his elite passing range, and if he can wriggle himself free of Elliot Anderson, combined with the technical brilliance of Youri Tielemans, United already have the perfect formula for demolishing City on the break.
Beyond this, having Cunha as an option off the bench is also a lethal weapon that can be used to brilliant effect. It was Cunha off the bench who cemented the wins over City and Arsenal in January, and he could conceivably replicate this on Sunday afternoon.