Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The 2026/27 season has been a struggle for Michael Carrick so far. Does he have the ingredients to turn it all around?
After entering the new season with hope, Manchester United fans are entering unthinkable yet familiar territory. Just one month in, questions are being asked about the future of head coach Michael Carrick.
Carrick was a huge success during his spell as interim boss. But similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he is finding it tough as permanent manager.
It’s early, but the scale of the problems were highlighted in the Carabao Cup elimination against Brighton. United gave up a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2.
Manchester United fans are wondering whether Carrick can turn the situation around. Former teammate Louis Saha believes that he is missing Casemiro.
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Casemiro miss vital for United
Casemiro was released at the end of his contract in June and has subsequently signed with Inter Miami.
Manchester United signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba to revamp the midfield in the summer – although the latter is yet to feature due to injury.
Louis Saha tells Betano that Casemiro was really the man who made United tick during his interim spell last season, and not Michael Carrick.
“What he must do now is support the team to animate the system, a way of playing, a certain motion and rhythm to what they do. Some of this comes naturally from the players you have but everything else must come from the manager.
“Last season a lot of that came from Casemiro. They still have not replaced him. People said he had no legs left but look at what Manchester United have lost now. He was the animator of the team. He gave everyone a belief in what they were doing. He was ready to seize the moment and take a risk and you could feel it in how they played.
“That’s why he is a great, great midfielder and has shown it over the years because he brought that balance. I think they can have that again with the players at the club but now it is Michael Carrick who must give this balance to the team as the manager.”
Pressure added to Carlos Baleba
The pressure is adding to Carlos Baleba to change Manchester United’s trajectory when he returns to fitness. He arrived with a pre-existing ankle problem which has delayed his debut until after the international break.
Saha comments: “Maybe Carlos Baleba can offer this [balance] when he comes back from injury, which would also allow Bruno Fernandes to facilitate the strikers too.
“United need someone who excites the team, winning the ball, feeding the runners, lifting the crowd. United need something special there because they are missing a player who is dynamic and creative.”
United spent £65 million to sign Baleba in the summer, a figure that can further rise. Youri Tielemans has performed well since his arrival, but Andrey Santos has struggled so far. The game against Brighton was a chance for him to stake his claim, and he failed to do so.
Baleba is capable of stepping up, but his form last season was patchy for Brighton, and he is coming off an injury into a gruelling set of fixtures. The pressure being placed on him already is racheting up expectations.
Casemiro’s absence may still be being felt, but United had to move on, and United have spent enough that means we should not have to look back.