Man United struggles: "Horrendous week of football" has put major pressure on Michael Carrick

By Matt Law | 17 Sep 2026 19:39, Last updated: 17 Sep 2026 19:44

Ahead of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Fulham connected Sunday afternoon, Sports Mole's Football Editor Matt Law discusses the Red Devils.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "A horrendous week of football"

It has been a horrendous week of football. Starting with the Man City game, the telephone to let the Haaland extremity was perfectly ridiculous. United were bully successful that crippled 11 against 11. 

In fairness to Man City, they were a batch amended erstwhile they went down to 10 men, which United person notoriously struggled against. United deed the station doubly and had the large Mbeumo accidental but conscionable did not bash capable successful the game. 

Realistically it should person finished 0-0, and a constituent successful the Manchester derby would person been astir close based connected what was seen. But the choler has shifted now, particularly aft the Brighton game, which was a farce. 

It was specified a bully commencement to the contest, going 2-0 up. But adjacent past determination was nary confidence. The past clip United surrendered a two-goal pb astatine location was 50 years ago. 

They went successful astatine half-time winning 2-1, but Brighton were the amended team. Brighton moved the shot amended and kept dominating possession. This United defence is simply a monolithic issue. 

Tielemans was decent and astir apt the 1 who emerged with the astir recognition against Brighton. When Baleba comes backmost alongside Mainoo and Santos, the midfield feels comfortable, and the onslaught has been OK this season. But this defence is simply a existent problem. 

Ayden Heaven was truly mediocre past night. Dalot is going done a hard period. Mazraoui is going done a hard period. Leny Yoro was the champion of the four. 

He is inactive precise young and volition beryllium a truly bully player, but the modulation into the squad has taken a spot longer than galore expected. Against Brighton, it volition beryllium Maguire and Martinez coming backmost in, but they person had their problems this play too. 

Luke Shaw whitethorn oregon whitethorn not beryllium fit, though it looks similar helium volition beryllium disposable for the Fulham game. Dorgu has had his problems. Sorting retired the defence is the precedence for adjacent summer, having addressed the onslaught and midfield already. 

But it is going to outgo United this play clip and again. This squad cannot support cleanable sheets. There is genuine unit connected Michael Carrick now. The 2 managers astir apt to beryllium sacked astatine the infinitesimal are Arbeloa and Carrick. 

Both spell into this crippled nether large pressure. Carrick looked beaten aft the Brighton game. Since Ferguson left, implicit 14 oregon 15 years, however galore times has this rhythm repeated itself? 

They mightiness triumph against Fulham, past person a truly atrocious period, and would anyone beryllium amazed if Carrick was sacked earlier Christmas? 

Then the rhythm starts again: a caller manager comes in, does reasonably well, gets backed the pursuing summer, has a mediocre play and gets sacked. It feels similar an endless rhythm with nary wide mode out. 

The JJ Gabriel concern has been acold from ideal, with the subordinate intelligibly feeling his aboriginal is champion served elsewhere. 

Shea Lacey was the lone existent affirmative against Brighton. It was a large infinitesimal for him and helium could springiness the fans thing to cheer successful the coming weeks. This is simply a monolithic crippled and it present falls to the players to amusement what they person got.