Ruben Amorim Warns Manchester United Will Still Suffer This Season Under Michael Carrick Due to Insufficient Signings.
Ruben Amorim has reportedly warned that Manchester United could still face another difficult season under Michael Carrick if the club fails to complete more important signings before the transfer window closes. The former United manager, now in charge of AC Milan, has seen his old side from the opposite dugout and believes that, despite the improvements made since his departure, there are still major weaknesses within the squad that cannot be solved by coaching alone. His concerns have become even more relevant after Carrick himself publicly admitted that Manchester United need further reinforcements before the end of the summer transfer window.
Amorim’s warning comes at a particularly interesting moment for Manchester United. The Portuguese coach was dismissed earlier in 2026 after a difficult spell at Old Trafford, with Carrick eventually taking over and helping to stabilise the club. Carrick’s arrival brought renewed optimism, and United’s performances improved significantly enough for the former midfielder to earn the opportunity to lead the club into the new season. However, the problems within the squad have not completely disappeared, and the summer transfer window has so far failed to address every position that requires strengthening.
The issue is not necessarily that Manchester United have failed to spend money. The club have already invested heavily in the squad, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos among the notable arrivals, while other additions have also contributed to the reshaping of Carrick’s team. Reports indicate that United have spent around £85 million on their major summer additions, although the club remain under financial constraints and have been unable to make the kind of blockbuster signing that some supporters expected.
For Amorim, however, the argument is not simply about how much money Manchester United have spent. It is about whether the players arriving at Old Trafford are actually addressing the team’s biggest weaknesses. A squad can spend tens of millions of pounds and still remain incomplete if the recruitment does not target the areas that are causing the most problems. That is why the former United boss’ assessment has attracted attention, particularly after Carrick admitted that he wants and needs more players before the September 1 deadline.
Carrick has been remarkably open about the situation. Rather than pretending that Manchester United have a perfect squad, the manager has acknowledged that additional reinforcements are required. His comments have effectively confirmed what many supporters have already suspected: the rebuilding process at Old Trafford is far from finished. Carrick wants the club to continue pushing in the market, with a left-back and midfield reinforcement among the positions reportedly being considered.
That admission makes Amorim’s supposed warning even more significant. If the current manager himself believes that more signings are necessary, then the concerns about another difficult campaign are not simply coming from outside observers. Manchester United’s own coaching staff recognise that there are still gaps that must be filled if the team is going to compete consistently at the highest level.
The most obvious concern is defensive depth. Manchester United have experienced repeated problems with injuries, inconsistency and a lack of reliable options in certain defensive positions. The left-back position has been highlighted as an area requiring attention, with United reportedly exploring options in the market. The situation became particularly obvious during the recent pre-season meeting with AC Milan, when United suffered a 4-2 defeat despite taking the lead twice.
That result will not determine United’s season, but it provided another reminder that Carrick still has work to do. United looked vulnerable when Milan increased the pressure, and the defensive problems that emerged during the match raised questions about whether the current squad possesses enough depth and quality to handle the demands of a full Premier League campaign.
Amorim would know those problems better than most. During his time at Old Trafford, the Portuguese manager repeatedly faced questions about the quality and balance of his squad. His tactical approach demanded specific player profiles, and the lack of suitable options made it difficult for him to consistently implement his preferred system. Although Carrick has introduced a different tactical approach and brought more stability, the underlying need for squad improvement has remained.
The difference is that Carrick appears to have been given a more favourable environment. His initial spell in charge produced a significant improvement in results, helping convince the club’s hierarchy that he could be the right man to lead the next stage of the rebuild. That momentum has generated optimism among supporters, but Amorim’s warning suggests that optimism must be accompanied by more recruitment.
The former United boss’ message can be interpreted in simple terms: Carrick can improve Manchester United, but he cannot magically transform every weakness in the squad. The manager can change tactics, improve confidence and develop individual players, but there are certain problems that require new personnel.
This is particularly important because expectations surrounding Manchester United have changed. After several disappointing seasons, supporters are no longer satisfied with simply finishing comfortably in the top half of the Premier League. The club wants to return to the Champions League, challenge the strongest teams in England and eventually compete for major trophies. Those ambitions require a squad with quality throughout the starting XI and sufficient depth on the bench.
Manchester United’s rivals have also continued strengthening. Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and other Premier League clubs have continued to invest in their squads, increasing the pressure on United to make the right decisions before the transfer window closes. Carrick has reportedly urged the club to keep pushing because he understands that the margin for error in the Premier League is extremely small.
The situation is therefore becoming something of a race against time. Carrick has identified the need for further additions, while the transfer window is approaching its final stages. United cannot afford to wait until the last few days and discover that their preferred targets are unavailable. If the club want to give Carrick the strongest possible squad, decisions need to be made quickly.
The recent AC Milan defeat has only intensified those discussions. The match was particularly intriguing because it brought Amorim face-to-face with the club he previously managed. Milan eventually won 4-2 after United had taken the lead, exposing defensive vulnerabilities and providing Amorim’s team with a memorable victory.
For United supporters, the result was disappointing but also instructive. Pre-season results should never be treated as a direct prediction of what will happen during a competitive campaign, but performances can reveal areas that require attention. In this case, United’s collapse after taking the lead demonstrated that there is still a gap between having promising players and having a consistently reliable team.
Another factor is the uncertainty surrounding some existing players. Marcus Rashford’s return to the squad has added another layer to Carrick’s selection decisions. Rashford recently returned to the pitch for United after a long absence, having spent time away from the club on loan. Carrick has spoken positively about his return, while the player’s long-term future remains a subject of speculation.
If Rashford stays and returns to his best level, he could effectively become another major attacking option without requiring a new transfer. But United cannot build their entire season around players rediscovering their best form. The club need reliable options in every area, particularly if they are serious about competing across a demanding Premier League campaign.
There is also the question of squad balance. Manchester United have spent significant amounts of money on attacking players in recent transfer windows, but the current squad still requires reinforcement in other areas. Recruitment must therefore be strategic rather than simply expensive. Carrick needs players who fit his footballing ideas and can immediately improve the team’s consistency.
This may explain why United have reportedly resisted making a huge £100 million signing this summer. Carrick has acknowledged the financial limitations surrounding the club and stressed that footballing quality matters more than simply spending enormous amounts of money on one player.
Amorim’s warning, therefore, should not necessarily be interpreted as an attack on Carrick. Instead, it can be viewed as a broader assessment of the challenges facing Manchester United. Whoever sits in the manager’s seat will struggle if the squad is incomplete. Carrick may have achieved better results than Amorim, but the new manager still needs the club’s recruitment department to provide him with the tools required to sustain that improvement.
The biggest danger for Manchester United is allowing optimism to replace urgency. Carrick’s successful period in charge has created a sense that the club have finally turned a corner, but one good run of form does not automatically solve years of structural problems. The new season will test whether United’s improvement was sustainable or simply the result of a temporary change in atmosphere.
Carrick has already demonstrated that he can get more from certain players. His challenge now is to build a team capable of performing at that level every week. That becomes much harder when injuries occur, suspensions accumulate and the schedule becomes congested.
This is where depth becomes crucial. A team might look competitive when its best XI is available, but the Premier League is rarely kind enough to allow a manager to use the same players every week. Manchester United need quality alternatives, particularly in defensive areas and midfield. Without them, Carrick could find himself returning to the same problems that affected previous managers.
Amorim’s assessment also highlights the broader pressure surrounding Manchester United. The club’s supporters have endured years of disappointment and are desperate for signs that the rebuilding process is genuinely moving forward. Another season of inconsistency would increase pressure on Carrick and the club’s hierarchy, regardless of how much progress has been made behind the scenes.
Carrick therefore faces a delicate situation. He must simultaneously improve the players already at his disposal while pushing the club to strengthen the squad. His public comments suggest that he is not satisfied with the current level of recruitment, and that he believes more additions are necessary before the deadline.
The coming weeks could ultimately determine how seriously Manchester United’s ambitions should be taken. If the club complete the right signings, Carrick could begin the campaign with a squad capable of competing at a much higher level. If they fail to address the remaining weaknesses, Amorim’s warning could begin to look increasingly prophetic.
There is still time for United to act. The transfer window does not close until September 1, meaning the club have an opportunity to give Carrick the reinforcements he has requested. Reports suggest that Manchester United remain active in the market and are not finished with their recruitment.
Ultimately, the success or failure of Manchester United’s season will not depend on one player or one transfer. It will depend on whether the club can create a balanced squad, whether Carrick can maintain the tactical and psychological improvements he has brought to the team, and whether the players respond consistently when competitive football begins.
Amorim’s warning should therefore be seen as a challenge rather than a definitive prediction. Manchester United do not necessarily have to suffer this season, but they must recognise that their squad still has weaknesses. Carrick has already admitted that more signings are needed, and the club now have the responsibility of acting on that admission.
For Manchester United supporters, the message is clear: the rebuild is not complete. The club may have made progress, Carrick may have restored confidence and several players may have improved under his leadership, but the team still requires further investment if it is to compete with England’s elite.
If United strengthen intelligently before the deadline, Carrick could enter the season with a genuine opportunity to build on last season’s progress. If they fail to do so, however, the pressure will quickly return. And should injuries, poor form and defensive problems strike, Amorim’s prediction that Manchester United will continue to suffer could become one of the major talking points of the season.
For now, the ball is firmly in Manchester United’s court. Carrick has publicly asked for more. The weaknesses are visible. The transfer window remains open. What happens next could determine whether the new era at Old Trafford becomes the beginning of a genuine revival or another season of frustration.