Carrick Confirms Two Man United Stars Will Miss Atletico Madrid Encounter

According to a report by Metro on Monday, October 12, 2026, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw will miss Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Atletico Madrid after sustaining injuries against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Red Devils will travel to the Spanish capital for their second Champions League match of the season, hoping to end a four-game winless run that has increased pressure on Carrick.

Manchester United started their European campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Sabah but have struggled to maintain that form, drawing against ten-man Tottenham in their most recent outing.

The team’s poor results have reportedly raised questions about Carrick’s position less than six months after his permanent appointment, making the trip to Atletico an important test for the manager.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Carrick explained that Mainoo and Shaw had been unable to recover sufficiently from the problems they sustained against Tottenham on Saturday.

The United boss confirmed that both players had been left out of the travelling squad but insisted that their absence would not leave the team short of options for the European fixture.

Carrick also highlighted the opportunity for younger players, including Dan Armer, to experience the build-up to a major Champions League match.

Meanwhile, the manager welcomed Matthijs de Ligt’s return to the squad after a lengthy period of working towards full fitness.

Carrick expressed satisfaction with the defender’s progress, explaining that the club had exercised patience while he worked through his recovery and prepared to return to the team.

The update provides Manchester United with a potential boost in defence despite the absence of Shaw, while Mainoo’s injury leaves another gap in the midfield ahead of the difficult away fixture.

Carrick also addressed concerns surrounding captain Bruno Fernandes, revealing that the Portugal international had been playing through an injury during the opening stages of the season.

The United manager defended Fernandes’ performances, noting that the midfielder had made significant contributions to the club and remained an important figure despite his recent difficulties.

Carrick explained that Fernandes was almost over the problem and was looking forward to facing Atletico Madrid.

However, the manager made it clear that no player would automatically retain a place in the starting lineup, stressing that performances, behaviour and understanding of the team’s requirements would influence his selection decisions.

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