Carrick backs United’s chances as they face Sabah in Champions League opener
Former midfielder Michael Carrick says Manchester United are poised to progress in the group stage after a modest start to the Premier League campaign.
Manchester United travel to the Groupama Stadium on Thursday to meet Sabah FC in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Former Red midfielder Michael Carrick told Al Jazeera that the squad has the quality to go “far” in the competition, despite having collected only four points from their first four league matches.
The English side will likely line up a 4‑3‑3, with goalkeeper David de Gea expected to start after recovering from a minor knock. Ten Hag’s midfield options include the returning Scott McTominay, while the attacking line could see Marcus Rashford partnered with new signing Alejandro Garnacho. Sabah, making their debut in Europe’s elite tournament, will rely on their home‑grown striker and a compact defensive shape, according to the club’s official channels.
The Champions League group phase pits 32 clubs from across Europe into eight groups of four, each playing home and away fixtures. The top two teams advance to the knockout rounds, while the third‑placed side drops into the Europa League. For United, the competition offers a chance to restore continental prestige that has eluded the club since their 2008 triumph. Historically, United have struggled to translate strong domestic form into European success, often exiting at the quarter‑final stage in recent years.
United’s early Premier League form – one win, two draws and a loss – has left them fourth in the table, a position that Carrick believes can be improved through a focused Champions League run. Ten Hag, who took charge in 2022, has emphasized squad rotation to manage the congested schedule, a strategy that may see younger players feature more prominently against Sabah.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and streamed globally via the official UEFA platform. A win would give United three points and momentum heading into their next league game, while a draw or loss could intensify pressure on Ten Hag as the season progresses.
This report is based on original reporting by Al Jazeera. Read the original source →