Manchester United Must Address Concerns After a Slow Start

Manchester United’s return of four points from a possible nine to start the season has fallen short of expectations.

Talk of a Premier League title challenge may have always been both premature and wishful, but the team should be able to fight for another top-three finish.

A defeat to Hull City and a victory over Ipswich were followed by a last-ditch draw away to Everton, in which the Reds surrendered a lead twice.

Defensive concerns are threatening to derail the club’s campaign before it has even begun, and Manchester United must address those concerns.

Champions League Return Should Kick-start United’s Season

It would be unfair to suggest Manchester United have been playing badly so far this season.

Michael Carrick’s assertion that the team haven’t been that bad wasn’t far from the truth… but expectations are just so high at Old Trafford.

If your goal is to finish in the top eight, United’s start to the season has been fine. There has been some absolutely brilliant football in isolation, with teams clearly fearing United’s attacking capability.

However, those moments have been fleeting and not consistent enough for a team that wants to dominate games and put pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City.

Carlos Baleba’s late arrival with an injury has done little to help Carrick, with the former Brighton midfielder expected to be a guaranteed starter alongside one of Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Andrey Santos.

That is fantastic depth in both number and quality, a huge upgrade from last season, but Carrick hasn’t yet been able to put all the pieces on the pitch.

Last season’s dramatic turnaround under the former Middlesbrough coach has seen Manchester United return to the Champions League.

This happened way ahead of schedule, but the return of truly elite continental football to Old Trafford could provide a platform from which they can build.

Thursday evening sees the champions of Azerbaijan, Sabah FC, touch down in Manchester to begin their Champions League group phase campaign.

It will mark Manchester United’s first experience of the competition since the reformatting of the group stage, and if anything, the Reds should be a huge beneficiary.

Premier League Clubs Have no Excuses not to Reach the Knockout Stage any Longer

A four-team group made every game a virtual six-pointer, whereas now you realistically only need to win three of your eight matches to qualify.

Sabah are one of the weakest teams in the tournament, and United couldn’t have wished for an easier start. They can’t afford to waste it.

Baleba may not be fit enough to make his debut, but there should be more than enough quality on hand to make short work of the Azerbaijani side.

Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro should be given a chance to play together as a central defensive pairing, with this clearly being the plan for the club’s future.

United’s defence has been weak this season, and Carrick has to try and find an answer to that.

Building confidence between Heaven and Yoro in an easier game against Sabah could build confidence ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.

That could help put a stop to the stream of goals the Reds have conceded in their opening three games.

United’s start to the season has put them behind the eight-ball. They face a Manchester derby that they must not lose, whilst they have a Champions League game which they can’t afford to take lightly.

It will be a big week for Carrick’s charges, and they must use it as a chance to set their stall out for the rest of the campaign in the right way, and to convince fans they aren’t going to see more of the same disappointment.