Manchester United have travelled to Italy to face Como in the Champions League under significant pressure, facing an acute squad depth crisis that points directly to technical director Jason Wilcox’s summer transfer strategy, Football365 reports.
The fixture comes a week after defender Lisandro Martinez publicly called out Wilcox following a defeat to Atletico Madrid. Manager Michael Carrick now faces the task of securing a result with a severely diminished squad, particularly across the defensive line and attacking options.
Severe Shortages in Defense and Attack
According to Football365, Manchester United’s squad for the trip features just four senior defenders disembarking in Milan. Harry Maguire remains the team’s only regular fit center-back, alongside full-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui. Matthijs De Ligt was included in the travelling party despite not featuring in competitive match action for nearly 11 months since last November.
The situation in the attacking department is similarly strained, with United travelling without a single specialist center-forward. Benjamin Sesko remains sidelined with an ongoing shin issue that persisted throughout the summer transfer window. Despite the pre-existing fitness concerns surrounding Sesko, Wilcox opted against acquiring a dedicated replacement or direct cover, choosing instead to rely on versatile options already present in the squad.
Carrick has been forced to utilize alternative players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Joshua Zirkzee in central roles. However, none of these options operate naturally as orthodox central strikers.
Questions Over Summer Transfer Strategy
Football365 highlights that while injuries have mounted, United’s policy of focusing heavily on a single tactical unit during each transfer window—prioritizing midfield reinforcements over the summer—has exposed obvious vulnerabilities elsewhere in the team. This strategic imbalance has put immense pressure on Carrick during a difficult start to the campaign.
Despite growing criticism regarding the squad’s construction and depth, Wilcox remains secure in his role under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, even as performance consequences mount on the pitch for the club.
