Michael Carrick don admit say United get serious work to do for defence, as im side continue to struggle to keep clean sheets. For im pre-match news conference at Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium for Como, wey rain beat well well, dem ask am about United failure to shut out opponents. Carrick answer straight: ‘You’re dead right. I can’t argue with that.’
Dem put am say e go help if United fit manage some clean sheets, and dem ask whether im don figure out the problem. United don keep opposition out just once in 10 games dis season, against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK last month. Carrick talk say: ‘There’s definitely parts of our game we have to improve to make things easier. I am fully aware of that.’
But the problem no start dis season. Last term, United manage six clean sheets in Carrick’s 17 matches in charge, including two for dia final three games. Before Carrick, under predecessor Ruben Amorim, United get overall nine clean sheets in 63 games.
Continuity for selection supposed help Carrick build defensive stability, but e no dey happen. Only once Carrick fit name same back four: Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw start the victory against Ipswich at Old Trafford on 30 August, and dem keep dia places for the trip to Everton di following week.
For comparison, Arsenal, who face Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday, don record seven clean sheets in 11 matches dis season. Carrick describe im fitness update before the Como encounter as ‘a mixed bag’. United take on Como for Champions League on Wednesday.
