Carrick’s European Debut: Man United Host Sabah FK Amid Midfield Crisis

Three years after their last appearance in European football’s premier club competition, Manchester United will mark their return to the UEFA Champions League on Thursday when they host Azerbaijani side Sabah FK at Old Trafford. The fixture represents the European managerial debut in the permanent role for Michael Carrick, who earned a full-time contract after guiding United to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season. United’s midfield depth faces an immediate test due to multiple missing personnel. Summer signing Carlos Baleba, who arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion, remains sidelined alongside midfielder Manuel Ugarte. Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton is also ruled out.

Photo: IMAGO

Carrick, who won the Champions League as a Manchester United midfielder in 2008, must balance expectations surrounding the three-time European champions against a growing list of squad availability issues across his midfield and defense. The absences leave Carrick leaning on Kobbie Mainoo and Belgian international Youri Tielemans to form a central double pivot in United’s expected 4-2-3-1 setup. Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, acquired from Chelsea for £48 million, provides another option in the middle, though recent team selections indicate Mainoo and Tielemans are poised to retain their starting roles.

In defense, Carrick faces lingering fitness questions on the left flank following Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Everton. Luke Shaw, who provided the assist for United’s goal in that match, is a major doubt as medical staff continue to manage his workload. If Shaw is unavailable, full-back duties will fall to Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, who are both capable of operating on either flank. Young defender Harry Amass offers an outside alternative at left-back, though Carrick is unlikely to hand the teenager a starting berth on matchday one. In central defense, Matthijs de Ligt continues his recovery from a long-term back injury and is not yet expected to start, leaving Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez as the primary center-back pairing. Young defenders Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven remain available as rotation options.

In attack, United welcome back Mason Mount to squad training following an injury layoff, offering potential late-game reinforcement. However, winger Amad Diallo remains out until at least October with an ankle injury sustained earlier in the campaign. Carrick’s primary decision in the forward line revolves around striker Benjamin Sesko, who is approaching full fitness after a shin injury disrupted the conclusion of his prior season. Sesko came off the bench to score against Everton from Shaw’s delivery, pressing his case to displace Matheus Cunha in the central attacking role. Should Sesko start, Carrick could deploy Cunha on the wing, allowing Marcus Rashford to be rested.

Club captain Bruno Fernandes is set to operate in his customary central attacking midfield role, flanked by Bryan Mbeumo on the right. Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens is expected to start between the posts. United’s expected starting lineup features Lammens in goal; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, and Mazraoui across the back line; Mainoo and Tielemans in central midfield; Mbeumo, Fernandes, and Rashford operating behind Cunha upfront. Thursday’s match marks the first-ever competitive meeting between Manchester United—winners of the European Cup in 1968, 1999, and 2008—and Sabah FK, a club founded in 2017 that plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League. Manchester United last competed in the Champions League during the 2021–22 campaign, when they reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by Atlético Madrid.