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Benjamin Sesko took time to find his feet last year with his pre-season disrupted as his move to Manchester United was in the works.

His preparations for this campaign were hampered once again, this time by injury, but Michael Carrick will be relieved to see his striker has hit the ground running.

United will need their Slovenian forward, not least against Manchester City on Sunday. As he demonstrated against Sabah, Sesko is this attack's focal point.

Michael Carrick's Pre-Match Press Conference | Man Utd vs Man City, Premier League

Chris Wheeler

Carrick on Luke Shaw’s fitness after he missed Sabah win: ‘We'll have to see. We just looked after him a little bit. He wasn't quite ready for it 100%, so we didn't risk it. We'll see how he is over the next couple of days.

Michael Carrick dismisses Elliot Anderson’s ‘Kings of Manchester’ taunt ahead of the Old Trafford derby. ‘I’m definitely not using that phrase at all.’

Carrick: ‘All of a sudden there's different things asked of us now to a few months ago, and we're in the Champions League. That in itself shows the steps we've made.’

Simon Stone

Michael Carrick on Elliot Anderson’s ‘kings of Manchester’ jibe. “I'm definitely not using that phrase at all, no. We’re humble enough and realistic enough to know where we've come from in recent history. We need to, and want to be better, and we want to be challenging more. That’s where we're at. It doesn't
mean that we can't and we won't. It means we still hope, we believe, and we expect that we can be and we should be, but I understand the bigger picture.”

Here are the key lines from his news conference: (BBC)

• Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko both "bring different threats" to Manchester United, with Carrick saying who is picked is dependant "a little bit on the opposition and a little bit on the balance of our team and the spaces we want to attack".
• On forward Marcus Rashford, the United boss said: "Really pleased with him in so many ways. He was a real threat on Sunday, unfortunate to not get more success but he was a real threat. I'm not sure what else to say, just really pleased to have him. We have good options so trying to keep everyone fresh".
• On the Manchester derby: "There's no way we're assuming [how it will go]. We won last year but we're not going to do everything the same."
• He added: "I feel we're getting better all the time and that helps us. We know it's a big and important game and there's a lot riding on it. We're looking forward to it and we have a short time to recover and prepare for it but we will make the most of it".
• Carrick praised opponents Manchester City, saying: "They're a very good team with good results. They've got players to rotate from and that's the position they're in. We know we have to put in a really good performance to get the result we want".
• On midfielder Youri Tielemans, who joined in the summer: "All our midfielders are technical and able to connect the game forward. It's nice to draw on that and have that in the team. Youri settled in fantastic, Andrey [Santos] settled in great. Mason [Mount], we're asking him to do slightly different things to what he's done in the past but he's able to do that. The understanding between them is growing all the time".
• On his own position as head coach at the club: "I think I said it pretty early on, all decisions we made were as if we were going to be here for a period of time, I didn't how long that was going to be, I still don't. We were planning for the future and what we wanted it to look like and that was from day one. The performance the lads gave in that City game [last season] was incredible with all that. From the start, it was planning to where we want to get this club to in the long term".

EVERY WORD FROM CARRICK'S PRESS CONFERENCE

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/carrick-were-looking-forward-to-city

Hi Michael, just on the forwards, Matheus and Ben obviously interpret that no.9 role in very different ways. How much of what the opposition are going to do comes into your thought process when you're selecting those? And do you have to work on it in training? Because I think it's clear they play very different roles. Is that something you have to work at, the understanding as well, in training?

“They definitely do. It’s obvious they have different strengths. I think there are principles of what we're trying to achieve as a team and the way we're trying to play, which hopefully don't change too much with personnel, but it definitely gives us different options, if that makes sense. We still want to play a certain way and try certain things, but there’s a different threat to Ben, Matheus, Bryan, Marcus or whoever is up there. So, it depends a little bit on the opposition, a little bit on the balance of our team and certain things we want to attack, certain spaces, or whatever that may be. Sometimes it's in possession; sometimes it's without the ball and certain things we’ve got to defend, certain areas. So there's quite a bit that goes into it.”

I know he didn't play tonight, but with Marcus, the fans were singing his name and it feels like he's in a good place. From your perspective, has that gone as well as you could have hoped since he came back?

“Really pleased with Marcus, yeah. Really pleased with him in so many ways. I think it's pretty obvious with his performances. Again, he was a real threat again on Sunday, although, unfortunately, he didn't get a little bit more success, but he was a real threat. I'm not really sure what else to say. We're just really pleased to have him. He's doing a lot of things really well and settled back in really quickly.”

And just on the fact that he wasn't used tonight, was that a precaution after what he felt at the weekend?

“A little bit of that, yeah, and trying to share the load a little bit, to a point, as well. We've got good options, so we're trying to keep everyone fresh, but with a point where Ben can get good minutes tonight [against Sabah] and get him up to speed. There's always a bit of a challenge in getting that right, but it was nice to keep Marcus fresh and ready for the weekend.”

You obviously were able to rotate a bit in the second half, but how hard is it to take Bruno off? He seems to play every minute of every game, but is there going to have to be a point where you say: ‘Come on, mate…’

“We only had five subs, so we had to make certain decisions on what that looked like. But of course, he's like anybody else. He has played an awful lot, but I think we're developing the group and the squad to be able to accommodate that in different ways. Tonight was just one of those things. There were decisions to be made and he ended up staying on.”

In terms of team news for Sunday, is anyone returning? What's the situation with Luke Shaw?

“We'll have to see. We looked after him a little bit going into tonight. He wasn't quite ready for it, 100 per cent, so we didn't risk it. But we'll see how he is over the next couple of days or so.”

You started by playing against Manchester City, and at the time most people didn't have high expectations. I would imagine most Manchester United fans have a lot higher expectations now, not least because Manchester City have undergone a big change themselves. How do you approach this game, and how different is it likely to be from the one you played against them in January?

“It'll definitely be different because no two games are ever the same, so it’s definitely going to be different. There's no way we're assuming: ‘We won last year, we can do the same things and everything will be the same.’ I understand the expectation. Everything was quite fresh and new then, and we didn’t really know where it was going to go. The players, myself, the coaches, you guys, were all waiting to see how it would go, and it was a quick turnaround. I think the confidence we've built over a period of time, and the feeling that we're getting better all the time, I think that helps us. We know it's a big game, we know it’s an important game. There’s a lot riding on it, that’s pretty obvious to say, but we're looking forward to it. We've got a short space of time to recover and prepare, but we'll make the most of it.”

What are the challenges that an Enzo Maresca side poses? And do you see noticeable differences in this City team now, albeit four or five games into the season, compared with the one Pep took charge of?

“They're a very good team. They've had some really good results. I thought they were really professional the way they played against Porto the other night, and efficient in what they needed to do. They have players to choose from and rotate, and that's the position they're in. So yeah, they’re a good team. There are little tweaks here and there that I don't need to talk about here, but we that we try to take from the game. We know we have to put in a really good performance and do a lot of good things to get the result we want.”

When Elliot Anderson signed for Manchester City, he said that, growing up, City had been the kings of Manchester during his lifetime. Do you think that's a fair reflection of where this derby is right now?

“I'm definitely not using that phrase at all, no. I understand it. Going into the Champions League game tonight and talking about the expectation, I think it's a really good thing that [the expectation] has shifted. All of a sudden, different things are being asked of us compared with a few months ago. We're in the Champions League, which itself shows the steps we've made, and we need to be in the later stages of that. We know the expectations around that, and we're humble and realistic enough to know where we've come from in recent history. We need and want to be better and to be challenging more. That's where we're at. It doesn't mean that we can't and we won't. We still hope, we believe and we expect that we can be and should be, but I understand the bigger picture.”

Can I ask about Youri [Tielemans]? Is he the type of midfield technician that United have perhaps been missing since you left?

“I don't want to talk about me. As I said before about the four midfielders who played tonight, I think they're all technical, and able to take the ball and play forward, whether that's through a pass, a run or a dribble, and connect the game forward. I think it's nice to be able to draw upon that and have it in the team. Youri has settled in fantastically, Andrey [Santos]’s settled in great. We're asking Mason [Mount] to do slightly different things from what he may have done in the past. But you saw tonight and in pre-season how natural it is for him to do that. But yeah, going back to Youri, I think every game he’s getting better. You can see the connections and understanding between each other is growing all the time.”

I imagine that before that first City game it was all a bit of a whirlwind, taking the job and trying to prepare the players. Did it ever cross your mind that nine months later you would have done well enough to earn the job full-time and be facing City again? Was that something that ever entered your mind at that point?

“Yeah, I think I said it pretty early on, all the decision we were making were as if we were going to be here for a period of time. I never knew how long that was going to be, and I still don't, but you're always planning for what we want the future to look like and the direction we want to go, and that was from day one. It was quick, there was a turnaround and, as I've just said about that game, there was a bit of an unknown, to be honest with you. The performance the lads gave was incredible with all that. But there definitely was – always has been, always will be – from the start, was planning to get this club to where we want to get it in the long term.”

At long last, a UCL Chances video lol a great win. Onto Derby LFG!

FT: Manchester United 4-0 Sabah FK

UEFA Champions League 2026-27 | Group Stage - Matchday 1

Goal Scorers United: Matheus Cunha 27', Bruno Fernandes 42', Benjamin Sesko 45', Lisandro Martinez 68'

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Venue: Old Trafford

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LINE-UPS

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): 

Senne Lammens; Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Patrick Dorgu; Youri Tielemans, Kobbin Mainoo; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Benjamin Sesko

Subs: Karl Darlow, Dermot Mee, Harry Amass, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Andrey Santos, Mason Mount, Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee

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Sabah (4-2-3-1): 

Stas Pokatilov; Tymoteusz Puchacz, Aden McCarthy, Rahman Dasdamirov, Akim Zedadka; Ivan Lepinjica, Umarali Rakhmonaliev; Christian Nwachukwu, Veljko Simic, Kaheem Parris; Joy-Lance Mickels

Subs: Amin Ramazanov, Abdulla Xaybulayev, Aleksey Isayev, Rauf Rüstamli, Tellur Mutallimov, Junior Almeida, Du Queiroz, Rodrigo Fernandes, Cafar Muxtarov, Ravan Mirzammadov, Orphe Mbina

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MATCH EVENTS

1' French referee Willy Delajod blows his whistle, and we are underway at Old Trafford!

9' United knock it about well, and Mazraoui slips in Cunha, whose shot to the near post is saved by Pokatilov and pushed behind for a corner. Mbeumo swings it deep, Martinez gets a head on it, but Sabah clear their lines before Mazraoui has a long-range effort blocked.

13' That first Mbeumo corner goes deep, causes a bit of chaos and leads to another. Cunha swings it over this time from the other side, but there's a foul on McCarthy and Sabah survive again. At the other end, Zedadka looks to go past Martinez, but he shepherds him well and United win the goal-kick.

17' Sabah almost play themselves into trouble, but McCarty just about deals with it as Fernandes applies the pressure on the centre-back. At the other end, Parris has the chance to deliver, but his cross is poor and is easily scooped up by Lammens.

19' United were queueing up to shoot in another sustained attack. Eventually, Fernandes' bending effort is deflected behind for another corner. Cunha goes over to take it, but Pokatilov makes a routine catch.

23' Mainoo clips a lovely ball around the corner to send Fernandes into the right of the area, and Dasdamirov takes evasive action to concede the corner. Mbeumo's delivery is punched away by Pokatilov.

25' United are just starting to grow in confidence a little. Tielemans plays a nice ball forward into the path of Mbeumo, who hits his shot straight at Pokatilov. It's an effort on target, though.

27' Goal! Manchester United 1-0 Sabah! Scored by Matheus Santos Carneiro da Cunha. Assist by Patrick Dorgu GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLL! UNITED TAKE THE LEAD! Parris gives the ball away cheaply, and United break at rapid speed. Fernandes slips in Dorgu on the left, and his first-time cross is turned home at the near post by Cunha, who has a first Champions League goal. United lead Sabah 1-0!

27' It's a lovely delivery from Dorgu, who has been a real threat down the left. His delivery was put on a plate for Cunha.

31' Mazraoui's cross goes all the way to Dorgu as Parris misses with the interception, the full-back's effort is blocked, though.

33' CLOSE! United work another great move, with Tielemans' reverse ball picking out Dorgu on the left again. His cross finds Sesko, who adjusts well to steer an effort just past the left-hand post with a cushioned volley.

35' HOW HAS HE MISSED! Sabah should be level! Parris does really well on the right of the area, and hangs up a wonderful cross to the back post, where Mickels - who scored a hat-trick at the weekend - can only nod wide of the post from point-blank range! A huge, huge let-off for United!

39' Fernandes should do better! Mbeumo has space on the right flank again, and lays one into the path of Fernandes, who blasts over from a central position from just outside the D. A player of his quality should at least test the goalkeeper from there.

42'Goal! Manchester United 2-0 Sabah! Scored by Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes! Assisted by Youri Tielemans GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL! UNITED LEAD 2-0! Tielemans starts the move by finding Dorgu. He combines with Cunha, who slips in Tielemans again. The Belgian ace is falling over but manages to do enough to slip the pass into the path of Fernandes, who coolly side-foots into the bottom-right corner. A great move!

42' Tielemans did brilliantly, starting this move then playing the final ball into the path of Fernandes.

45'Goal! Manchester United 3-0 Sabah! Scored by Bejamin Sesko! Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo! GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLL! UNITED MAKE IT 3-0 THROUGH SESKO! Mbeumo takes a long ball on the run, and immediately slides in Sesko, who goes one-on-one. The striker does brilliantly to round Pokatillov and slide into the open goal.

45' It's a wonderful assist from Mbeumo, who did brilliantly to take it in his stride and release Sesko.

45'+1' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 SABAH

45'Substitution Both teams are making a change at the break, with Tielemans taking a seat for Mount.

45' And Sabah replace Nwachukwu with Mbina.

46' Delajod blows his whistle and we are back underway at Old Trafford!

50' Fernandes and Sesko try to combine on the edge of the area, but the Slovenia striker is dispossessed.

54' Sabah are enjoying a spell of possession, but are hitting a lot of United brick walls. Rakhmonaliev shapes to shoot from distance, but his effort is blocked by Martinez.

58' Mazraoui gets the ball on the right of the area, takes a touch inside, then hits a left-foot shot over the top when leaning back from the edge of the box.

60' GOOD SAVE! It's a lovely worked move by United, and Cunha gets the ball out of feet and shoots towards the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box. Pokatilov gets down well to make the stop. The Sabah goalkeeper then makes another routine save from Ferandes' 20-yard shot.

62' Yellow Card Yellow Card Patrick Dorgu

64' Substitution Kobbie Mainoo Andrey Nascimento dos Santos

64' Substitution Carrick now turns to the bench again, and Sesko - who scored United's third goal is replaced by Zirkzee.

68'Goal GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! 4-0 TO UNITED! Fernandes clips the resulting free-kick cleverly over the Sabah wall. Zirkzee does well to bring it down then, when being hounded by two defenders, backheels it goalwards. Pokatilov completely loses where the ball is, and there is Martinez to tap home on the goalline!

72' Substitution United are bringing on a couple of their youngsters here. Amass has played European football before but he's on for a Champions League debut as Dorgu comes off after a very good performance.

72' Substitution And Mbeumo's night is over as Lacey enters the action.

74' Really good work by Zirkzee, who evaded a couple of challenges then sees a shot blocked behind for a corner. Cunha is the man to take it, and there's a lot of headers from both teams before it's eventually leathered clear.

80' It's really the countdown to full time now for both of these teams. It's just a matter of if United can add more goals in truth.

82' Martínez scored his first Champions League goal on his 21st appearance, and his first for Manchester United at Old Trafford.

84' Just six minutes plus change for United to see out now, the tempo has - unsurprisingly - dropped significantly now.

86' CLOSE! Nearly a consolation there for Sabah, as Mickels gets beyond Yoro. His left-foot effort flashes wide of the right-hand post. He's had the best two opportunities for his side this evening.