Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Manchester United are sitting 12th in the Premier League, and Michael Carrick is under pressure to get better results after the extended international break.
Football experiences change every year. One of the most noticeable differences early into the 2026/27 season is how the September and October international breaks have merged.
Unlike previous seasons, Premier League matches were played up to the end of matchweek five on 20 September. Manchester United fans must wait three weeks for matchweek six to recommence.
United have won just two of their first seven matches, but the results are painfully similar to last season. Here is a look at what happened after the first international break of the 2025/26 campaign.
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Ruben Amorim’s struggles continued at Man Utd
United played four Premier League matches prior to the September international break last term.
Ruben Amorim’s side endured a painful return after being soundly beaten by rivals Man City at the Etihad. The first Manchester derby of the season ended 3-0 in favour of the Blues, and there were no signs of momentum for the team.
The Reds responded with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford, courtesy of first-half goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. It was a matter of one step forward and two steps back because United followed it up with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Brentford.
United won their final game 2-0 against Sunderland before the October international break. Senne Lammens made his United debut and kept a clean sheet against the Black Cats.
At this time, Amorim’s tactics and preferred system were coming under intense scrutiny. It didn’t bode well that United started the season poorly just months after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao. The press were questioning whether the squad had the players capable of playing the football Amorim was demanding.
Casemiro’s red card against Chelsea always showed how light United were in the midfield department. Even when the Brazilian veteran was available, he wasn’t the player he was at Real Madrid, and United were in desperate need of reinforcements.
So, in terms of results, it remained a mixed bag for Amorim, which wasn’t sustainable. Fast forward to now, and Michael Carrick is in a similar boat, with five points from as many games in the Premier League.
Manchester United’s next five fixtures: