Manchester United vs Sabah: Champions League Opener Preview

Manchester United step up preparations for their Champions League opener tonight, with Michael Carrick putting his players through their final paces on the grass at Carrington.

Sabah, the reigning champions of Azerbaijan, arrive at Old Trafford on Wednesday night for an 8pm kick-off, and they do so in ominous domestic form. Three league games, eight goals scored, none conceded. They are not coming to make up the numbers.

United, by contrast, have stumbled rather than surged into Europe. One win, one draw and one defeat from their opening Premier League fixtures tell the story of a side still searching for rhythm. More worrying is the consistency of their frailties: Carrick’s team have shipped two goals in each of those three matches, with two of them against newly-promoted Ipswich Town and Hull City.

At home, under the lights, that simply has to change.

Carrick’s selection puzzle

Carrington offered a few clues. A strong senior core trained, but Carrick still has injuries to juggle before naming his first European XI of the campaign.

Amad Diallo remains sidelined as he continues to recover from the minor issue he picked up in pre-season. Matthijs de Ligt is also still short, yet to complete a full return to training after the back injury that cut short his 2025/26 season in November.

Those absences open doors elsewhere. A sizeable group was present this morning: goalkeepers Lammens and Darlow; defenders Mee and Honor; full-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui; centre-backs Harry Maguire, Yoro, Heaven and Lisandro Martinez; young left-back Harry Amass; midfield options Gabriel Santos, Mason Mount, Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and Thwaites; and an attacking pool featuring Dorgu, Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo, Joshua Zirkzee, Lacey and Benjamin Sesko.

The headline for United fans is clear: Rashford trained.

Rashford relief, Shaw rested

Rashford’s involvement is a major boost after he was withdrawn on 70 minutes at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. Carrick explained afterwards that the forward, who drew praise for an “outstanding” and “sharp” display, had felt some discomfort and was taken off as a precaution.

His presence with the group on the eve of a Champions League opener suggests he is in contention to start, a vital piece of attacking thrust for a side that needs to set a dominant tone in Europe.

On the opposite flank, there is no Luke Shaw in training, but this time the omission comes with no alarm bells. Shaw, United’s only established senior left-back, has been given a designated rest day, according to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, rather than being ruled out through injury.

That absence nudges the spotlight towards Amass. The young full-back trained again as he waits for his first minutes under Carrick, a tantalising option if the manager chooses to freshen up his back line or manage Shaw’s workload across a packed schedule.

United know what’s required tonight: control the tie, tighten up defensively, and send an early message in Europe. With Sabah arriving full of goals and confidence, Carrick’s selection – and how his side handle the first defensive test under the Old Trafford lights – will say plenty about where this season is really heading.