According to Sky Sports analysis, Man Utd's summer transfer activity has left the squad stretched thin and overly dependent on a core group of players, making it difficult for them to cope with the intensity of three matches per week.

"This puts some pressure on Man Utd. They face Manchester City next week, and European competitions kick off midweek."

Carrick's words after Man Utd's 2-2 draw with Everton now ring true. Though it's only September, his concerns have materialized. The pressure is mounting on Carrick, and this week suddenly feels like a pivotal moment in the season.

When the 2024/25 Premier League fixture list was released, Man Utd statistically had one of the easier opening runs. Halfway through, they have dropped more points than they've gained.

The upcoming schedule will only get tougher. As Neville noted, Man Utd's first Champions League match comes Thursday night against Azerbaijani champions Qarabag, followed three days later by the first Manchester derby of the season.

Given the nature of these two opponents, Carrick will likely rotate the squad on Thursday. This means for the first time, people will truly see the depth of his squad, not just the starting XI's quality. But does his bench have sufficient depth?

The consensus is clear: Man Utd's summer transfer activity has left the squad stretched thin and overly dependent on a core group of players, making it difficult for them to cope with the intensity of three matches per week.

According to Transfermarkt, Man Utd actually has the second-largest squad in the Premier League. However, the squad imbalance is the real issue.

Their substitute attacking options rank highest, but 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 critical area of concern, as Luke Shaw's injury history creates long-term vulnerability at this position.

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

Squad imbalance is one major issue, and another is the stark performance gap between the starting XI and the substitutes.

While there appear to be financial constraints at the club, an undeniable fact is that Man Utd's net spending since 2022 is the highest among all Premier League clubs. Yet this investment has not translated into a squad with genuine positional competition.

Looking at the Everton match, Carrick made his first substitution in the 70th minute. The data comparison below shows significant changes from that point onward, and what the stats would have looked like had Man Utd maintained the same performance level in those opening 70 minutes.

In summary, Man Utd's area of play shifted after the substitutions. The team appeared more in the opponent's half, but this didn't generate more effective attacks, as their pass quality in attacking areas declined and chances created also dropped.

They also engaged in fewer physical duels, which in turn increased pressure on themselves and gave the opposition more opportunities. Of course, Everton was pushing for a goal at that stage, and the context was different from the opening 70 minutes, so the final 20 minutes couldn't be identical to the first 70.

But this does suggest that when Carrick deployed his substitutes, they failed to perform adequately. Sesko is clearly an exception, but one substitute player making an impact doesn't mean the squad has sufficient depth.

This trend was evident not only in the Everton match but also against Hull City.

You might look at these statistics and think: "Man Utd actually played better after the substitutions." But in the starting XI against Hull City, four players were ruled out for the next two matches. Carrick had to rotate more early in the season as players were building fitness. The substitutions in that match also moved the team closer to the lineup they would use to face Ipswich and Everton.

This is the problem. Even when Carrick changes fewer than half the team, the team's performance still dips noticeably. The players involved have no choice but to give their all, otherwise Carrick risks damage this week and potentially the entire season.

Yoro, Dorgu, André Santos, and Zirkzee have an excellent opportunity Thursday night to prove their worth to the team.

Of course, they'd all prefer to play in the derby, but the first European night needs a strong start. If selected, the pressure on them will be as intense as on the key players who might start against Manchester City.

Neville spoke about Carrick needing to earn the fans' trust. The same applies to the players mentioned above. A victory in the first Champions League match would ease many worries; if they underperform, anxiety around Old Trafford will only grow.

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