Analysis
Manchester United: Michael Carrick faces defining month at Old Trafford as Carlos Baleba emerges as potential game-changer
Manchester United face a huge October run; Michael Carrick is under increasing pressure after a difficult start, while Carlos Baleba's return could provide a much-needed boost to United's midfield.
Thursday 8 October 2026 17:59, UK
As the Premier League returns this weekend, so does the focus and attention on the red side of Manchester.
Although Manchester City have dominated the headlines during the international break, it is easy to forget that, given the position Manchester United find themselves in, they could be one more disappointing result away from a storm of questions over whether Michael Carrick is the right coach to steer them through it.
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Saturday 10th October 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
That is why the next week, and indeed the whole of October, feels huge for United.
A home encounter against a winless Spurs side on Saturday is followed by away trips to Atletico Madrid, Leeds United and Como, before the month finishes with Bournemouth and Chelsea.
But on the flip side, this is an opportunity for Carrick and his side to kick-start their season.
The United head coach has pointed to a series of unfortunate events that have contributed to the club's slow start, but there will be less empathy as this next phase of the season begins.
Carrick has been reluctant to address his team's underperformance in his media duties, but he will hope the international break has done his squad a world of good.
The positive is that plenty of players have had time to address their form, fitness and perhaps even their confidence. Matheus Cunha is a good example.
Fair to say the Brazilian has looked slightly off it this season. That may be partly down to playing through the middle rather than in his preferred left-wing position, but with Cunha not called up by Brazil, he has had time to reset after a disappointing start.
The better news for Cunha is that, with Amad Diallo also now fit, Carrick can finally reshuffle an attack that has failed to look threatening despite some impressive offensive statistics.
Amad's return on the right means Bryan Mbeumo can move back through the middle, while Cunha could have a fascinating battle with Marcus Rashford, pending his fitness, for the role on the left.
Carrick has been limited with his attacking options so far, partly because of Benjamin Sesko's lack of availability, but he now has the options to change the look of his side if he chooses to do so.
However, I'm a Baleba!
Friday's news conference with Carrick will be really interesting, not just to hear his thoughts on Manchester City's situation and how he has been impacted as a former player, but because the team news ahead of Saturday's encounter with Spurs will be key.
Carrick does not tend to give too much away in his pre-match news conferences, but with the number of concerns and question marks over his squad, just how many options will he have at his disposal on Saturday?
Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu both left their international sides due to injury, while there are still question marks over Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo after they pulled out of England duty, alongside Benjamin Sesko with Slovenia.
However, United will have players back.
Amad, as mentioned, is one. Matthijs de Ligt is getting closer to full fitness, but perhaps even more significant is the pending debut of summer signing Carlos Baleba.
The £65m signing is now fit after suffering an ankle injury for Brighton in pre-season and has had the international break to acclimatise to life at Carrington.
Baleba is understood to have settled into the club well with staff and players and completed his first broadcast commitments as a United player earlier this week alongside Amad, which would point to the midfielder being ready to feature as soon as Carrick believes he is.
The context of Baleba's arrival could have been very different if United had begun the season more positively. Perhaps he could have been slowly introduced into the team.
But after United's start, which has yielded five points from five games, Baleba's importance has only increased in terms of what he can add to this midfield.
The axis of Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo has shown us what Carrick thought in pre-season. It feels like the right combination in certain games and certain situations, particularly at home when United are more comfortable dominating the ball and dictating the tempo, but the consistency is not quite there yet.
Baleba will offer this midfield qualities that have still yet to be replaced following the summer departure of Casemiro.
Of course, he will offer physical attributes, but at both ends of the pitch he could really change the fortunes of this team.
Defensively, he will be able to better shield a defence that has, unfortunately, leaked too many goals this season, particularly when United are caught in transition.
But, as I've said since he signed, I am really looking forward to seeing what he can offer going forward too.
During his more impressive spells in a Brighton shirt, he always left me impressed with his range of passing and his ability to drive with the ball through midfield.
Those are qualities United have largely been without in that midfield for years - perhaps since Paul Pogba?
It is too early to say Baleba can be transformative for this team, but for what Carrick and his side need, especially with the games to come, he could prove to be United's most important signing of the summer.
