Carrick: Quite satisfied with summer transfer window results; Midfield setup requires long-term planning, not just immediate needs

This Sunday at 9 p.m. (CEST), Manchester United will face Everton away in their third Premier League fixture. During the first half of his pre-match press conference, Carrick shared his thoughts on the summer transfer window and plans for the midfield. Related link: Carrick: No need to try Doku at left-back; Zirkzee is happy at Manchester United

The transfer window has closed. Overall, how do you assess this summer transfer window and Manchester United's recruitment efforts? Do you feel the club is still lacking a left-back?

When the summer transfer window opened, I said our objective was to build on last season's squad and make it stronger, and we genuinely have strengthened the team. In this regard, we've done excellent work. We had the financial budget and space to maneuver, and we've tried our best to maximize the efficiency of our limited resources.

I'm quite satisfied and genuinely pleased with the new signings this summer. In terms of player quality, I think we've made some excellent deals. Of course, looking back, you can always find alternative options—some deals could have been done differently; some targets were ultimately secured, while others slipped away.

This is part of the club's continuous improvement and development process. We're always striving for progress. We've clearly identified certain positions that needed to be filled to strengthen the squad. Logically, the team is now in good shape, and the entire squad has excellent balance. This includes squad vitality, player characteristics, and the personnel needed to handle different matches.

Many players in the squad are versatile and can play multiple positions when needed. In a long season, you always need such versatile players. So overall, I'm quite satisfied with the results of this summer.

Next, I'd like to ask about Sesko. Last season, he scored a crucial goal against Everton. This summer, he missed a significant portion of pre-season training. How is his shin injury recovering? Is he eager to get more playing time?

His condition is improving, and his fitness is gradually recovering. We gave him adequate rest time, which is very important. We need to ensure that once he's fully recovered, there won't be any recurring injuries. While no one can guarantee 100% safety, we've done our best to create conditions for him and keep the team healthy long-term.

He made great progress last season, and he's still young, in a phase of adaptation, learning, and development. There's still plenty of room for improvement ahead. At this stage, we need to be patient with him and gradually bring him into the new season. He's been in excellent form since returning to the squad, and I look forward to seeing him on the pitch more.

You just mentioned squad balance. Does signing three midfielders this summer simply mean selecting two or three starters based on the demands of each match? Many fans outside might think: since the club spent 70 million on Baleba, he must play; Tielemans and Bruno Fernandes work well together, so they should also start simultaneously; and Mainoo, who played excellently last weekend. In practice, how do you balance the squad and determine the starting lineup for each match?

Listening to you, it sounds like I pick the starting lineup sitting in my office. It's not that simple. Of course, I hope all players stay healthy and are ready to compete throughout the season. But when we build a team, we can't focus solely on next Sunday's match; this team needs to sustain itself over a long season.

The rotation options brought by the new signings are partly used for substitutions during matches and partly for rotation between different fixtures. Especially going forward, when we face a congested schedule with matches every three days, all aspects need to be considered and balanced comprehensively. With the new signings, we now have more combinations and partnership options in midfield.

Midfield personnel decisions aren't just about one match per week; they require long-term planning, preparation for potential injuries, suspensions, and other unforeseen circumstances during the season. Only then can we manage risk and maintain the team's competitiveness. Currently, our squad depth is very good, and we hope all players avoid injuries for as long as possible.

You mentioned financial issues in your previous answer. This summer, clubs like Tottenham, Manchester City, and Chelsea have invested enormous sums. One might ask: as Manchester United's manager, why do you always talk about transfer budget and recruitment constraints?

I'm not saying we have rigid constraints; I'm simply stating the reality of our current situation. Investment amounts are one thing, but regardless of budget size, you must maximize the resources you have.

There's no doubt we've maximized the value of our transfer funds this summer, and the value delivered by the new signings has even exceeded our investment. I simply focus on ourselves, do our best to make the most of what we can, and we've accomplished that.

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