"All eyes will be on Old Trafford this Saturday as Michael Carrick begins his second stint in the Manchester United dugout with the ultimate stress test, a Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola's side. Tasked with halting a season that is rapidly unraveling, Carrick is expected to make immediate tactical changes after taking over from Ruben Amorim. Despite having only a handful of training sessions to work with a low-confidence squad, early signs suggest the caretaker boss is ready to move decisively away from the system that failed under his predecessor."
"Carrick's willingness to alter the structure so quickly underlines the urgency of United's situation. The Amorim-era back three failed to provide defensive solidity or midfield control, and with top-four hopes fading, Carrick appears determined to restore balance rather than persist with a flawed approach. The most significant shift expected in Saturday's lineup is a return to a back four. During his impressive tenure at Middlesbrough, Carrick favored a fluid 4-2-3-1, a system that suits the current United personnel far better than the previous regime's formation."
"Lammens will retain his place in goal, but the defense protecting him is set for a reshuffle. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are expected to operate as traditional full-backs, flanking a center-back partnership of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez. In midfield, Carrick is likely to prioritise control and could bring back Kobbie Mainoo to the side, who struggled for game time under Ruben Amorim."
Michael Carrick takes over as Manchester United caretaker and faces a Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola with urgent tactical changes expected. The previous back-three system under Ruben Amorim failed to deliver defensive solidity or midfield control, prompting a likely switch to a back four and a fluid 4-2-3-1. Lammens is set to remain in goal while Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw revert to traditional full-back roles alongside a center-back pairing of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez. A two-man midfield with Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte could free Bruno Fernandes to play as the No.10. Pace on the wings from Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko leading the line are expected to provide counter-attacking threat despite limited training time with a low-confidence squad.
Read at www.caughtoffside.com
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