Manchester United have not won in nine, and Roma’s only defeat this season came from 3-1 up against Real Madrid
Michael Carrick says he can’t wait for Roma’s visit to Old Trafford, with United 17th in the Premier League and on three points from three Champions League games.
Nov 3, 2026
Michael Carrick knows how it sounds. “You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but genuinely, I really can’t wait for the game,” the Manchester United head coach said on the eve of Roma’s visit to Old Trafford in the Champions League. It kicks off at 8pm in Manchester on Tuesday, which is 1:30am IST on Wednesday.
The results he means are bad. United have gone nine games without a win in all competitions, their worst run since 1988-89, and they lost the last three. They are 17th in the Premier League after the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, and the BBC reports a growing feeling at the club that Carrick could lose his job during the international break that follows this round of games.
Three points from three in Europe
The Champions League has not been an escape. United started by beating Sabah 4-0 at home, which is still their last win, then lost 2-0 at Atlético Madrid and 4-1 at Como. That leaves them on three points from three games, just inside the top 24 places that go through to the knockout stage play-offs, with five games left.
Roma arrive in far better shape. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are third in Serie A and have not lost in the league, and they won 5-2 at Udinese on Saturday. Their only defeat anywhere this season was the 4-3 loss at home to Real Madrid last month, a game they led 3-1 with seven minutes left. They also drew 1-1 at Fenerbahçe and beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0, so they have four points.
Donyell Malen is the man United have to stop. He has eight Serie A goals and three in the Champions League.
Team news
Lisandro Martínez is available despite his red card at Chelsea, because that suspension only applies in the Premier League. Carrick did not sound like a coach about to drop him. “Things happen in football,” he said. Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu are out, and Marcus Rashford is a doubt. Kobbie Mainoo came back from a four-match absence as a substitute at Stamford Bridge and is pushing to start.
Roma are without Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
Old Trafford has been a miserable place for Roma before. United beat them 7-1 there in the 2007 quarter-finals and 6-2 in the first leg of the 2021 Europa League semi-final. On current form, though, the visitors are the ones scoring freely. A home win would not end the talk about Carrick’s future. A heavy defeat would probably settle it.