Michael Carrick warns Manchester United must respect strong Sabah side in Champions League

Michael Carrick says Manchester United will face a strong Sabah team and expects a difficult test when the sides meet in the opening round of the Champions League on Thursday.

United are preparing for their first match in the competition, with Carrick stressing that his players must balance their ambitions with a realistic assessment of the challenges ahead.

“It is great to be here. We will try to stay in the competition for as long as possible. We will face big challenges and we are looking forward to them,” Carrick said at his pre-match news conference.

Luke Shaw has been given an extra day to recover before a decision is made on his availability. Carrick said the club would continue to assess players individually rather than make decisions based on a fixed plan.

“Luke Shaw has had an extra day to recover and we will see where he is tomorrow. But it is not about a plan or anything like that; we think about each player individually,” he said.

Carrick believes Manchester United’s return to the Champions League is significant for a club with a long tradition of competing at the highest level.

“Being in the Champions League means a lot to Manchester United. This team is used to facing the best and being among the best, and that is not guaranteed,” he said.

“We were absent for several years but now we are back where we naturally belong. We have taken big steps over the past few months.”

However, Carrick warned that Sabah should not be underestimated. He said the opponents had built confidence through a strong run of results and possessed the organisation needed to trouble United.

“Sabah are a very good team. They have won a lot of matches and are playing with confidence. They press well as a team and we know our opponents well,” Carrick added.

United will also have to manage their squad carefully during a demanding period. They face Sabah on Thursday before another match on the following Wednesday, making the use of the club’s squad depth an important consideration.

“Rotation is about having a balanced view, and that is why we have a strong squad. We need to adapt to different strengths and different ways of playing,” Carrick said.

“We play on Thursday and then Wednesday, so it is about managing the group and trusting the players. Any player who is able to play will play.”

Carrick said United had not set a specific target for the season, insisting that the team would focus on each challenge rather than look too far ahead.

“There is no specific target for us this season. We have to deal with the challenge in front of us and push ourselves as far as we can,” he said.

“We are capable of achieving very big things in this competition. As time goes on, who knows what might happen if we reach the later stages? But we do not want to anticipate events. It is a new experience for some of us, although the players are used to playing European football.”

The United manager described the Champions League as the ideal stage on which to measure the team’s progress.

“The Champions League is a magical competition. It is where we want to be and we want to go as far as possible. It is the best competition in which to test yourself against the best,” Carrick said.

“We are happy to be here, but we are not here just to enjoy the occasion. We are here to work.”

Carrick also provided an update on Matthijs de Ligt, who is being managed carefully as he completes the final stage of his recovery.

“We are still managing Matthijs de Ligt’s situation. He has trained well and is pushing himself, but we are managing the final stage calmly,” he said.

“He is in a good position and it is great to have him back. I hope he returns soon.”

Benjamin Sesko is close to being ready to start, with Carrick praising the forward’s contribution during the previous season.

“Benjamin Sesko is close to starting. We wanted him to become ready. He scored a great goal and did a lot for the team last season,” Carrick said.