Michael Carrick aims to address defensive issues at Manchester United against Fulham

Michael Carrick's Manchester United are looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats as they prepare to face Fulham. The team recently suffered a disappointing loss to Brighton, which has raised concerns about their defensive frailties. Captain Youri Tielemans acknowledged that the team struggled to respond after going two goals down, highlighting a lack of performance that has become a worrying trend for Carrick's side this season.

Since Carrick's return to the club, the team has shown moments of promise, particularly in their defensive structure. However, recent games have exposed vulnerabilities, with United conceding two goals in three of their four Premier League matches this season. The defeat against Brighton further underlined these issues, with a goalkeeping error compounding the defensive disarray, raising questions about the team's coherence and shape at the back.

The left-back position has emerged as a significant concern for Carrick, particularly with Luke Shaw sidelined due to injury. Despite experimenting with Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu, the lack of a reliable option in that area has hampered the team's performance. The United hierarchy had been aware of this issue prior to the summer transfer window, yet no reinforcements were made, leaving Carrick to navigate these challenges with limited resources.

Discussion surrounding Carrick's future has begun to surface, although it seems premature given the early stage of the season. The team has accumulated the most points in the league since his appointment in January, but recent setbacks have cast a shadow over his tenure. A loss against Fulham could intensify scrutiny, but a positive performance, even without a win, may provide Carrick with the time needed to steer the team back on course.

via Sky Sports