One recurring theme defines this Manchester United side: they simply cannot keep clean sheets.
In 14 matches, the Red Devils have managed just three. For silverware ambitions, that record falls well short.
An ambitious team must become hard to break down, but this 2026-27 United side looks worryingly porous. Conceding six goals across three recent games only underlines how far they remain from genuine glory.
Relying on a back four that was never good enough
Michael Carrick now finds himself leaning on the same back four that Erik ten Hag once trusted. Years after the Dutch tactician’s departure, and after Ruben Amorim has come and gone, the familiar quartet of Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot continues to start.
Against Ipswich and then Everton, Carrick fielded exactly that combination. The numbers that have surfaced when they play together prove damning. The four have lined up together on 12 occasions and kept a clean sheet on only four.
That statistic alone suggests the unit is not reliable enough.
Carrick should rethink his back four
Carrick must now show boldness and rethink his defensive approach. He already possesses other stronger options in Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and, once fit again, Matthijs de Ligt.
Mixing these players with the four into a more formidable back four should become a priority.
Heaven impressed throughout pre-season, emerging as one of the standout performers match after match.
Mazraoui impressed at left-back for Morocco during the World Cup, delivering consistent high-level displays that regularly drew praise.
Yoro is not a right-back, and he deserves regular starts ahead of Maguire at central defence. United signed the Frenchman with the clear intention of developing him into an elite centre-back; continuing to handle him as they currently do risks preventing that progression entirely.
Ultimately, Carrick must find a way to stop his team leaking goals and start collecting clean sheets. He can achieve that, but only if he proves willing to make the tough decisions required over his back four.
Featured image by Michael Regan via Getty Images
