Carrick wants more players; left-back still a priority for Man Utd

Man United's first preseason under Carrick has been largely positive, but the team still has obvious shortcomings, according to The Athletic. The match against Milan was a reminder that Man United still have plenty of room for improvement, especially if Carrick and the players want to turn "doing something special" into reality.

Amorim was still waiting for his first win after his first three games with Milan, having drawn two and lost one 0-3 to Chelsea, but his team completely dominated Man United in the second half at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw.

Chukwueze, who was on loan at Fulham last season, frequently pushed forward from right wing-back to create threats. Both goal-scoring opportunities came after he found space during quick transitions before delivering left-footed crosses to Siss and Gonçalo Ramos.

Each time, Luke Shaw covered horizontally but failed to get forward in time to stop the cross. Part of the reason is the system; Amorim's 3-4-2-1 inherently emphasizes numerical superiority on the flanks, but this also means Man United continue to focus on strengthening the left-back position in their recruitment.

Speaking to the media in Dublin, Carrick made it clear: he wants more players, and left-back is the top priority.

Luke Shaw performed well last season, starting all 38 Premier League games, but he cannot consistently play twice a week, so Man United has looked at Lewis Hall, Lewis Skelly, and others.

The match against Milan was Luke Shaw's first full 90 minutes of this preseason. The 34-degree Celsius heat undoubtedly contributed to Man United's general lack of energy in the second half. With only a week left until the Premier League starts, none of the players want to risk injury at this stage.

However, given Man United's return to the Champions League, Luke Shaw needs a genuinely competitive backup.

Milan's fourth goal also came from Man United's left flank, but this time it was Lisandro Martinez who was exposed. Luke Shaw had pushed forward, leaving Martinez to track back. After a one-two with Ramos, he faced Loftus-Cheek, who shrugged off Martinez and calmly slotted the ball past Sene Lamens. It was Martinez's first appearance since the World Cup final, and the defensive lapse highlighted his lack of form.

Aidan Haven is competing with Martinez for the left center-back position and is expected to start against Hull City, while Martinez continues to regain full match fitness and Luke Shaw plays at left-back. It remains to be seen whether Carrick can find another replacement he considers truly viable before the transfer window closes, as 19-year-old Amas is still developing. Amas is talented, but the club is also considering sending him out on loan to secure consistent playing time.

Amorim being Carrick's last preseason opponent added a touch of irony to the story. Eighteen months ago, Man United did sign a player who fit his system. Patric Dorgu was brought in for Amorim's tactics; he is more attacking than a traditional full-back, or at least, in Carrick's view, he is currently more like a left winger.

Last summer, Amorim was backed with the signings of Carlos Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and Man United then unexpectedly snatched Benjamin Sesko, clearly recognizing that the team needed to add more goals. The three signings cost approximately £207 million in total. Under Carrick, Man United's current transfer spending stands at £85 million.

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Conversely, Amorim's eventual 15th-place finish led to more resources; Man United's third-place finish also secured Carrick Champions League revenue, which is crucial for the club's operations. With more than two weeks left in the transfer window, this situation could change, but the strong impression from Man United is that the club's spending will remain restrained.

Of course, Carrick also knows that coaches can change the situation. He gave the players Monday off before returning to Carrington for training. "We will train in different ways for five days," Carrick said. "Sometimes harder, sometimes more recovery-focused. We will get through this week and then get better. We are looking forward to it."

As for Carrick's predecessor, this match served as a fitting end to his Man United story. There were issues between Amorim and the players during his tenure, but many still greeted their former manager after the game. Bruno Fernandes, Shaw, Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez, and Zirkzee were among the first to embrace him after the awards ceremony.

Man United Football Director Jason Wilcox shook hands with Amorim in the player tunnel before kickoff. Seven months ago, Amorim had brought their relationship into the spotlight with a heated behind-the-scenes dispute over tactics.

Following Man United's draw away at Leeds United in January, Amorim said: "I am here to be Man United manager, not a Man United coach. Every department, the scouting department, the sporting director, needs to do their job."

When he saw familiar journalists in the mixed zone, Amorim seemed much more relaxed in the underground passage of the Tarczynski Arena, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. He then referred to his often unpredictable moments in press conferences and asked the journalists whether they missed him. They replied: "We miss your press conferences."

"It's not as fun now," Amorim said with a laugh.

This joke was aimed at himself, not a veiled dig at Carrick. Carrick’s calm, restrained coaching style has restored order at Man United, and since taking over from Amorim, he has the best record in the Premier League.

But Amorim's "friendly" victory also served as a timely reminder to Man United: the team cannot simply expect Carrick to continue working magic with the current squad.

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