According to Sky Sports analysis, Manchester United's summer transfer window business has left the squad stretched thin, with over-reliance on the same core group of players, making it difficult for them to cope with the intensity of three games per week.

"This puts a bit of pressure on Manchester United. They'll be playing Manchester City next week, and European competition starts midweek."

Carrick's words following Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Everton ring true. Although it's only September, he's right. Pressure is already mounting on Carrick, and this week suddenly feels like a turning point for the season.

When the Premier League 2024/25 fixture list was announced, Manchester United statistically had one of the easiest opening six matches. Midway through, they've dropped more points than expected.

The upcoming schedule will only get tougher. As Neville pointed out, Manchester United will play their first Champions League match on Thursday night against Azerbaijan champions Qarabag, followed three days later by the first Manchester derby of the season.

Given the nature of both opponents, Carrick will likely consider rotation on Thursday. This will be the first real test of squad depth, not just the abilities of the starting eleven. But is the bench deep enough?

The general consensus is that Manchester United's summer transfer business has left the squad stretched thin, with over-reliance on the same core group of players, making it difficult for them to cope with the intensity of three games per week.

According to Transfermarkt, Manchester United actually has the second-largest squad in the Premier League. However, the imbalance in squad structure is the issue.

Their attacking line has the most backup personnel, but their midfield depth ranks only 8th, and defensive depth ranks 10th. Looking at specific positions, right-back depth ranks 9th, while left-back depth ranks 18th. Left-back has always been a major talking point, as Luke Shaw's injury history has left the position with long-term vulnerability.

However, they only have themselves to blame for this problem. Since 2022, only Everton and Liverpool have invested less in their defence than Manchester United.

Squad imbalance is a major issue, and another significant problem is the stark gap between the starting eleven and the players who come on as substitutes.

Despite real financial constraints within the club, it's undeniable that Manchester United has had the highest net spend among all Premier League teams since 2022. Yet this money hasn't translated into a squad with genuine positional competition.

Looking at the Everton match alone, Carrick made his first substitution in the 70th minute. The data comparison below shows some key changes from that point, and what the statistics would have looked like had Manchester United maintained their first-half performance for the full 90 minutes.

In short, Manchester United's attacking play changed after the substitutions. The team spent more time in Everton's half, but this didn't lead to more efficient attacking, as the quality of their passes in the final third declined, and the number of chances created also dropped.

Their involvement in duels was also lower, which in turn shifted pressure back onto themselves, giving the opposition more opportunities. Of course, Everton was chasing the game at that point, so the situation was inherently different from the first 70 minutes, meaning the final 20 minutes can't be directly compared to the opening phase.

But it does show that when Carrick used substitutes, they failed to deliver an adequate performance. Sesko was clearly an exception, but one substitute changing the game doesn't indicate the squad has sufficient depth.

This pattern wasn't only seen against Everton but also against Hull City.

You might look at these statistics and think: "Manchester United actually played better after the substitutions." But among the starting eleven against Hull City, four players were ruled out for the next two matches. Carrick had to rotate early in the season as players were still building fitness. The substitutions in that match also brought the lineup closer to what would be used against Ipswich and Everton.

That's the problem. Even when Carrick changed fewer than half the team, the team's performance still declined. The players involved have no choice but to step up; otherwise, Carrick risks a difficult week ahead, and potentially the entire season.

Yoro, Dorgu, Andrey Santos, and Zirkzee all have a good opportunity on Thursday night to prove their worth to the squad.

Of course, they'd all prefer to play in the derby, but the first European match needs to start well. If selected, the pressure on them will be just as intense as the starting players who will likely face Manchester City.

Neville spoke about Carrick needing to win over the fans. The same applies to the players mentioned above. A win in the first Champions League match will temporarily ease many concerns; if they underperform, anxiety around Old Trafford will only continue to grow.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com