Rumours have circulated about the possibility of mid-season friendlies, which Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has refused to rule out.
This season has been both calamitous and optimistic at the same time. Players like Mathues Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have joined the club and provided the Manchester United faithful with a sense of hope.
Coming off the back of United’s worst-ever Premier League season, the stakes were high for the team, the pressure was on former manager Ruben Amorim, and he failed to deliver a cup run, being knocked out in the first round of both the League Cup and FA Cup for the first time ever.
This means the Reds will play the fewest possible games during a period full of uncertainty, with an interim manager who has revitalised the club’s slumping trajectory.
A logical solution to keep players 100% match fit would be to include mid-season friendlies in the schedule. Michael Carrick was asked about this prospect in a press conference, and his answer is intriguing.
Friendlies not ruled out, says Carrick
Typically, reports claim that managers overwhelmingly complain about congested schedules, particularly those whose clubs are in European competitions or have advanced far in domestic cups.
As said before, with the lack of non-Premier League games, this is not the case for the Reds. A possible mid-season friendly could prove beneficial to Carrick’s side.
Carrick was asked about this in a press conference. “At this stage, there is nothing confirmed. We’re aware of the schedule, and there are some spaces we can use in different ways. It’s all up for discussion at the moment, but nothing has been decided.”
The “spaces” mentioned come fairly quickly, with only seven games in the next two months. It is expected that fitness concerns will decrease, as the reduced workload places less strain on the player’s fitness.
That said, Carrick is without three first-team players to his disposal: Patrick Dorgu, Matthijs de Ligt, and Mason Mount, all injury-prone players.
Who would benefit from additional games?
Simply put, the inclusion of mid-season friendlies is not a requirement for players’ sharpness, but a desirable luxury the club can afford.
One player who would benefit greatly is Manuel Ugarte, a player floating around the starting eleven but struggling to displace the experienced Casemiro and the in-form Kobbie Mainoo.
Ugarte has played just 24 minutes under Carrick in three possible games and was linked with a move to Turkey late in their transfer window.
Ayden Heaven and Joshua Zirkzee are two more who would benefit. Both are in a similar position, being benched for a preferred, in-form alternative.
It would be interesting to see if the potential mid-season friendlies are given the green light, who United would play, as many teams have congested schedules, and the leagues are starting to enter a crucial period for teams’ seasons.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.