Michael Carrick shuts down talk of favourable start to Premier League season

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick quickly shut down suggestions about his side being handed a favourable fixture run to begin the 2026/27 Premier League season, calling it “ridiculous” and anything but favourable.

The Red Devils begin Carrick’s first full season in charge with a trip to newly promoted Hull City, followed by a home game against another promoted side in Ipswich Town next Sunday. 

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Carrick said, “For all of us to know this league, there’s no favourable start, I think it’s a tough start,” he said. “A promoted team away from home is a tough game.

“I’ve been involved in them in the past so I’m fully aware of what’s coming at us on Saturday, what we’ve got to be ready for. So it’s not favourable. It’s an easy thing to throw out there. But it’s pretty ridiculous in a certain way, [we are] not taking it that way at all.”

While both these fixtures look comparatively reasonable and easy on paper, Man United’s recent form against newly promoted sides suggests that a positive result in both games is far from a certainty.

Last season, Man United’s record against Leeds United, Sunderland, and Burnley was patchy at best. They managed two wins, three draws, and a rather infamous 2–1 defeat to Leeds United at Old Trafford, their first loss against their rivals on home soil since 1981. Suffice it to say, Carrick has been reasonable in tempering the expectations, while also setting the tone for a positive start to the season.

In terms of team news, Carrick confirmed that Benjamin Sesko would be in the squad for the Hull game, having trained with the first team. The Slovenian striker missed the entirety of pre-season due to a shin injury suffered towards the end of last season, but he is in contention to get minutes in the season-opener.

Mason Mount is touch-and-go for the game, having suffered a knock in pre-season, while the game comes too soon for Matthijs de Ligt, who has been out since last November due to a back injury but has been participating in grass training with the squad.

Carrick was also asked about whether leading Man United to their first Premier League title since 2012/13 is a realistic ambition for him as well as the club.

“It is going to be a jump,” said the 45-year-old. “I would never say we can’t – I don’t believe that. But it’s about what we are capable of doing as a group.

“The run of form we had last season gives us a lot of confidence, but we know there is a whole new step to make. We are pushing to do that. It’s exciting. We have the potential to achieve things and we will definitely give it everything we can. We have to believe we are a good team and can do good things.”

While preparations are going on in full tilt for the opening game, United are still in the market for new signings to bolster the squad ready for a season that will see them play frequently in midweek. The club are in the final stages of negotiations for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, while they are also looking for a left-back before the end of the transfer window.

“We are looking to strengthen the squad, working towards that,” Carrick said. “We are trying to make the most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it and are in a good way to doing that so far.”