Daily Mail: Manchester United's Start to the New Season Is Not That Bad, but Defensive Problems Cannot Be Ignored

The Daily Mail believes that although Carrick said Manchester United's start to the new season has not been bad, the team's defensive problems and the upcoming Champions League and Manchester derby challenges cannot be ignored.

Faced with this question, Michael Carrick appeared somewhat unhappy, showing a slightly pained smile. He interrupted the reporter and said: "To be honest, our start to the new season has not been that bad."

After three matches, Manchester United have recorded one win, one draw and one loss, earning four points. As Carrick said, the record is not terrible, but it could have been better. This is especially true considering their early opponents included newly promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town, as well as Everton, who revealed several squad shortages when the transfer window closed.

After selling Beto and sending him to Fiorentina, Everton failed to sign a striker. At a crucial moment, new right-back Maitland-Niles scored his first goal deep into stoppage time to help the team equalise and prevent Manchester United from winning at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

One moment and one goal completely changed the match and the shape of Manchester United's start to the season. Six points became four, and fourth place became 11th. As a result, questions about United's poor start and Carrick's slightly sharp response followed.

Manchester United could have celebrated Sesko's winning goal here again, but instead they boarded the team bus and left Merseyside feeling as though they had lost. They drew 2-2 with Everton rather than winning the match.

When reviewing Sesko's late header and Maitland-Niles' even later equaliser, Carrick admitted: "If that shot had gone into the top corner, it would have changed the whole feeling of those few minutes."

Carrick insisted that Manchester United's start to the new season "has not been that bad." Although the team collected only four points from three relatively favourable matches, the Champions League and the Manchester derby are already approaching.

After taking charge of the team in January and leading them to third place in the league, Carrick knew this season's focus would be maintaining progress while handling Champions League duties.

Since the new season began, Manchester United had maintained a rhythm of one match per week, but that reality will change quickly in the coming days. Carrick will lead the team against Qarabag on Thursday local time, before hosting Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby over the weekend.

Even with the pressure already surrounding that match, Manchester United's situation is made more difficult by the international break arriving three weeks later.

During this difficult early period of the season, Carrick and his coaching staff are likely most concerned about Manchester United's defence. The team have conceded two goals in matches against Everton, Ipswich Town and Hull City. In the past 50 years, the last time United conceded at least two goals in each of their first three league matches was in 2020.

Carrick admitted this situation cannot continue. He said: "We cannot ignore this. We need to concede fewer goals so that we have a greater chance of winning. Of course, we will analyse it carefully and continue improving."

There has been extensive discussion about Manchester United's transfer window strategy. After strengthening the attack last year by signing Sesko, Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, the club focused on rebuilding the midfield this year, signing Baleba, Andre Santos and Tielemans.

Manchester United plan to rebuild their defence next summer, but before this match Carrick defended the club's strategy and offered a different view of the assessment.

He said: "I understand why you would reach that conclusion, but things are not always that simple. I think the team has continued to improve and adjust. Of course, we clearly know what we want the team to look like after this summer and how we want to continue moving forward afterwards."

Manchester United's defence is a concern, as they have conceded two goals in all three matches they have played so far this season.

Regarding discussions over failing to sign a replacement for Luke Shaw during the transfer window, United's problems against Everton were ultimately not at left-back. In fact, Luke Shaw may have been Carrick's best-performing player in the match, defending strongly and assisting Sesko's headed goal with an attacking run.

Similarly, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Dalot, and substitutes Yoro and Mazraoui should not be singled out for blame individually.

Defending is a team responsibility, and Manchester United clearly have not done enough. Under Carrick last season, the team conceded in only seven of 17 matches, and although they conceded twice in four of those games, they won all four by 3-2.

Manchester United need to improve as a whole, while Carrick is still searching for the best midfield combination. The club have already invested £155 million in new signings.

Without doubt, Baleba is the team's best defensive midfield option, but he is likely to return only after the international break. Santos was also signed for this purpose, but after starting in the opening defeat to Hull City, he could only appear as a substitute against Ipswich Town and Everton, with Carrick preferring a deeper midfield pairing of Mainoo and Tielemans with more progression ability.

Mount, who impressed as a midfielder during pre-season, returned to the squad after recovering from injury in the Everton match, while defender De Ligt may soon become available again.

Carrick needs to find the right balance, and this week he must face Sabakh and Manchester City within four days, making the challenge even more complicated.

Manchester United have already stumbled during a relatively favourable Premier League opening. If they perform poorly again against this weaker side from Azerbaijan, they could badly damage their Champions League return.

Regarding the Manchester derby, United have produced some of their best performances against Manchester City in recent seasons. In fact, Carrick began his managerial career with a 2-0 victory over City at Old Trafford in January.

But Carrick knows that if Manchester United continue conceding goals in this way, Haaland and his teammates will be eager to take their chance for revenge.