Ex-United coach Meulensteen warns Carrick that Champions League workload could expose squad limits

Rene Meulensteen has cautioned Michael Carrick that the conditions which allowed Manchester United to thrive in the second half of last season are about to change dramatically, with Champions League football set to test the squad’s depth and defensive resilience in ways the caretaker run never did.

Carrick took charge on a caretaker basis after Ruben Amorim was sacked and guided United to Champions League qualification through a series of high-profile wins. Meulensteen, who served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford, argues that very success has raised the stakes considerably for the season ahead.

“The number of games they’re going to be playing is something completely different to last season,” Meulensteen said. “Michael is going to have to manage the squad extremely well, because last season they played once a week and had plenty of time for recovery and probably more days off as well. Whereas this season will be completely different as the volume of games, training sessions, and recovery days will change drastically. Not only that, but the travel time between games, especially playing in Europe, will have a huge impact as well.”

Meulensteen was direct about whether he believes the current squad is equipped to cope. “That’s going to be something that United and Carrick have to come to terms with very quickly in the early stages of the season. Are they strong enough to handle it? If the squad stays the way it is currently, I doubt it.”

Beyond workload management, Meulensteen identified the centre-back partnership as the most pressing issue Carrick must resolve before the campaign gets under way. “I still think they’re vulnerable at the back — and that’s one thing Michael is going to have to sort out as soon as possible when the season starts,” he said.

“Finding a centre-back partnership that works, and getting some consistency in the back line will be key. Harry Maguire is coming off a good end to last season, but he needs some complementary centre-backs next to him. They have plenty of options in Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, and even Luke Shaw can play in the position. But the problem has been that inconsistency at the back, which he will need to sort out as soon as possible.”