Carrick faces squad dilemma as United's poor league form complicates Brighton Carabao Cup plans

Michael Carrick is weighing up how heavily to prioritise Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Brighton at Old Trafford, with Manchester United’s sluggish Premier League start — four points from four games — making another defeat in any competition increasingly costly.

The 45-year-old head coach acknowledged the tension between managing his squad and the need to keep winning. The luxury Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed, rotating freely in cup ties from a position of league dominance, is not available to Carrick, who knows that pressure will build sharply ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham if United stumble again mid-week.

“It’s important for us to win football matches, and it’s important that we manage the squad,” Carrick said, stopping short of committing to a particular selection approach.

Carrick did make four changes for last week’s win against Sabah, and further alterations are expected against Brighton. Defender Leny Yoro and striker Benjamin Sesko are among those set to start, while £50 million midfielder Andrey Santos could make his first start since the opening weekend of the season.

On the broader question of what cup success means to him personally, Carrick was candid. He won three League Cups among 12 major honours across his 464-game playing career at United, and he understands the emotional weight a trophy carries for supporters. Yet he is also aware that his predecessor Erik ten Hag won both the League Cup and the FA Cup without it ultimately protecting his position once Premier League results deteriorated.

“Trophies are the beauty and the feeling of winning,” Carrick said. “It’s what we’re in football for, what we’re in sport for, and certainly what I’m at this club for is to try and win. It’s important, and I think trophies and achieving things and giving supporters that feeling of the emotion of that is important, definitely.”

The subtext is clear: a Carabao Cup run would be welcome, but it is unlikely to define Carrick’s tenure. United’s need for consistent Champions League qualification to sustain the club’s finances means league form will remain the primary measure of his success — and right now, that measure is flashing amber.