After the false start and the worst start, Michael Carrick pronounced it a fresh start. Manchester United have their fewest wins in their opening seven league games of a campaign for 40 years – just the one – and have not tasted victory in six matches in all competitions. Their manager nevertheless emerged from consecutive away games that brought defeat to Atletico Madrid and a draw at Leeds appearing more upbeat about their prospects.
“I understand the situation doesn’t look too good if you look at it from a certain way, but I got no doubts that we can go on a good run,” he said. That certain way could involve referencing results or the league table; seven games in, the club who finished third last season are already nine points adrift of the top three.
Carrick believes he has detected a good feeling around his squad, whether or not it stems from Lisandro Martinez’s public criticism of director of football Jason Wilcox. “I felt like [it was] a bit of a fresh start today and where we’re at, and accepting it and doing something about it,” he said. Perhaps not doing enough about it, given the result was exactly the same – a 1-1 draw – as in their previous two league games.
If there is improvement in Carrick’s camp, it has come from a low bar. And, in fairness, the performances in the intimidating atmospheres of the Metropolitano and Elland Road are not among United’s four worst this season – Hull, Manchester City, Brighton, Tottenham – but, again, that is scarcely a compliment.
Does it rank as a major reset? It was only the second game, and the first in the Premier League, when each of Carrick’s three signings started. The £150m midfield makeover may yield something. Youri Tielemans delivered a terrific cross for Bryan Mbeumo’s goal. “Really impressed with Youri,” said Carrick. “Exactly what we thought and hoped for bringing him into the group.” Yet that felt odd: Tielemans’ creativity was unleashed by putting him in the forward three and taking him out of the midfield where his lack of running power has been a problem.
Andrey Santos required a new beginning more than most, given how badly his first two starts, against Hull and Brighton, went. The £48m Brazilian has fared better against Atletico and Leeds; perhaps it is no coincidence it has been alongside the more athletic Carlos Baleba and in a midfield that is more compact.
“That’s a pretty fresh spine of the team, through the middle of the pitch,” Carrick added. “Both young players adapting to life at this football club, and I thought both of them were terrific today. I thought they both did really well in midweek, so that’s a massive positive for us.”
It is notable, though, that Carrick’s midfield looked better with a more defensive shape; he played 3-4-3 at Leeds, the formation that, at Old Trafford anyway, has an infamous association with Ruben Amorim. Perhaps that is United, forever going around in circles. Or maybe it was a way of adapting astutely.
Lacking Luke Shaw again, Carrick had a fourth stand-in left-back already this season, in Diogo Dalot, but the change in formation meant the Portuguese was actually a wing-back. At the heart of the new back three, Harry Maguire – one of the few players who seemed to suit Amorim’s shape – was named man of the match. Defence can provide a base and Carrick said: “We have got to be stable enough to keep doing the right things.”
Yet quest for solidity can come at a cost at the other end of the pitch, with fewer players in the final third. For a third consecutive match, United finished with an xG of under 1.0. Perhaps Carrick has been ripping up his own plans: Matheus Cunha, who began the season as an ever-present, has been on the bench for the last two games. Marcus Rashford has also lost his place.
That has been overshadowed by the focus on Martinez and his explosive assessment of United. Carrick excelled in smoothing over an awkward situation. He has blocked out much of what has been said. “The headphones have been on this week,” he said.
Yet the more meaningful test is to actually turn around United’s fortunes. It was notable that Daniel Farke said Leeds were “dominant” at Elland Road. United had 38 per cent possession and just three shots on target. If they exceeded expectations, it was because many expected them to lose.
A draw did not strike outsiders as an obvious turning point. “Listen, we’re not accepting it as everything’s great by any stretch, so I’m realistic with that,” said Carrick. “But sometimes you do struggle, sometimes you have to find a way through it.”
Perhaps United are plotting the right path. Perhaps they are on the road to nowhere. Much as Carrick talked of a fresh start, they need to kickstart their season.