Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
A look at Manchester United’s start to the season so far.
A poor start to the campaign has left Manchester United fans dejected after hope of a new dawn under Michael Carrick.
All is not lost for United, after we finished third last season from exactly the same start. But it is a long way back.
Here is a look at five things I have learned from United’s start to the campaign…
We miss Amad
Amad’s injury before the season started has proved to be a major blow. He is not expected back until after the international break.
United’s attacking play has been too predictable, Amad is a player who adds an extra layer, an extra element to the team’s play.
His ability to run at defenders and go either way has been missing, especially at home when United are expected to break teams down.
While his own individual numbers last season were below par, United were unquestionably a more dangerous team with Amad in full-flow.
Manchester United v Ipswich Town - Premier League 2026/27
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Rashford and Cunha?
With Amad absent, Michael Carrick has been able to select Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford in the same XI in all four Premier League matches.
I have yet to see evidence that the pair can play together effectively and should be part of the same starting group.
Cunha’s only goal came against Sabah when Rashford did not play. And the returning academy graduate is yet to score a goal this season.
Fans are calling for more Benjamin Sesko, and it’s hard to argue with that.
Rashford and Cunha should be battling it out for one spot on the left.
Santos is the odd one out
After promising signs in pre-season, I’ve been disappointed to the extent at how little Andrey Santos has been used.
After starting in the defeat against Hull City, Santos has not had a single start since.
Santos did not even come off the bench against Manchester City, and Mason Mount was given more minutes than him against Sabah.
While he will likely start in the Carabao Cup, it feels already like the former Chelsea man is the odd man out, and this will get worse when Carlos Baleba returns from injury.
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We need full-backs upgrades
Manchester United’s failure to invest at the full-back position was a major controversy over the summer.
While Patrick Dorgu played well against Sabah, he was not good enough against City. Luke Shaw’s defending has also been found wanting already this season.
On the right-flank, neither Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui are especially convincing.
This arguably needs to be the biggest area of focus in the transfer window next summer.
Henry Winter posted on X: “One day Manchester United will have elite-level full-backs again.”
How long will that take? It is certainly too late to address in a meaningful way this season.
Title challenge is over
I come into each season full of optimism wondering ‘what if…’ based on ‘what if we could start the season strongly?’
United’s title win in 2006/07 broke a four year drought and all began with an electric start that fuelled confidence for the rest of the campaign.
After four games, United’s 2026/27 title hopes look to be over already. City and Arsenal already have an eight-point advantage.
United’s top goal will simply be to qualify for the Champions League again, and that’s a depressing reality to have to accept already.