Manchester United ended pre-season with a worrying 4-2 defeat against AC Milan which should leave INEOS in little doubt about what Michael Carrick still needs before the Premier League begins.
Harry Maguire gave United the perfect start in Wroclaw, but Ruben Amorim’s side eventually exposed several problems which have been visible throughout the summer. United lacked intensity, struggled badly without the ball and looked short of athleticism in crucial areas.
With Hull City waiting next Saturday, Carrick needs more help.
Man Utd lacked intensity when it mattered
The most concerning element was not losing a pre-season friendly. It was how slow United looked for significant periods.
Milan controlled possession comfortably, with United having only 33 per cent of the ball at half-time. Carrick’s team regularly struggled to get close enough to disrupt Milan’s build-up and looked vulnerable whenever possession was lost.
That is particularly concerning a week before competitive football starts.
United need a midfielder who can cover ground quickly, defend transitions and allow the players around him to be more aggressive. It is an issue ReadManUtd has already examined when looking at United’s search for another midfielder.
The profile remains missing despite the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. An Opta Analyst squad auditreached a similar conclusion, identifying an athletic and ball-winning midfielder as the obvious remaining requirement in Carrick’s engine room.
Carrick himself has already made his position clear.
Speaking to The Times, the United boss said further improvement was required, with midfield and left-back among the areas still needing attention.
Saturday provided considerably more evidence for that argument.
Senne Lammens impresses but defence raises questions
Senne Lammens was one of United’s biggest positives despite conceding four times.
The goalkeeper produced several important interventions and prevented Milan from causing even greater damage. His performance should give Carrick confidence heading towards the Premier League opener.
There are more difficult decisions immediately ahead of him.
Ayden Heaven has arguably produced the better pre-season than Maguire and deserves serious consideration for the opening weekend. Heaven offers mobility which United’s defensive line badly needs.
Luke Shaw, meanwhile, endured a difficult afternoon. Milan repeatedly caused problems on his side and United looked uncomfortable whenever their defensive structure was stretched.
The left-back question has not disappeared.
United have continued to monitor Newcastle defender Lewis Hall, with Sky Sports previously confirming him among the club’s left-back targets.
ReadManUtd has already looked at why Hall fits Carrick’s plans, particularly as competition and a longer-term succession plan for Shaw become increasingly important.
Central defence may eventually require another look too. United cannot expect to press aggressively if the players behind that press are repeatedly exposed when asked to defend large spaces.
INEOS must give Carrick the squad he needs
Pre-season results should never produce panic. This performance should still produce urgency.
Carrick has already told United that he wants further reinforcements, and The Times’ latest reporting makes clear that the manager does not consider the rebuild finished.
Santos and Tielemans improve the midfield considerably, but United still lack the type of powerful, mobile player capable of dominating ground when games become stretched.
Left-back remains unresolved. There are questions about pace across the defensive unit, while Carrick also has to manage a squad returning to Champions League football.
United have spent money this summer. The issue is whether enough of the squad’s remaining weaknesses have actually been fixed.
The 4-2 defeat against Milan suggested they have not.
INEOS have one week before the Premier League season begins to give Carrick a stronger hand. After watching Milan expose many of the weaknesses he is already trying to address, United’s hierarchy should not need another warning.
