Michael Carrick reveals the team's readiness ahead of Manchester United's match against Sabah FC in the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 group stage opener.
On 10 September 2026, English coach Michael Carrick spoke about the readiness of the Red Devils, Manchester United, a prominent Premier League club, ahead of their home game at Old Trafford against Sabah FC from Azerbaijan in the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 group stage opener tonight at 02:00 GMT+7.
Michael Carrick said, "Participating in this competition is a significant challenge. It means a great deal to test ourselves against top-tier teams. This club is familiar with competing against the best and understands what it takes to reach and maintain that level. That is the standard we want to be at and should be at. It's the standard we aim to build."
"Based on recent performances in the competition, we have lacked consistency. We must stay humble and accept the reality, but that does not diminish our commitment or the expectation to succeed. We need to view things realistically and maintain balance. The crucial thing is what lies ahead and how prepared we are entering the competition."
"Regarding our goals, we have not set specific targets but must be ready to face the new challenges before us and push ourselves as far as possible. We have the potential to perform excellently in this tournament. Once we progress to the later stages, who knows how far we can go? But we will not skip steps or get ahead of ourselves. This may be a new experience for some, but overall, our players are familiar with European cup football."
"As for our opponents, Sabah FC, they are a team with excellent coaching structures, having secured many victories and currently playing with confidence. They possess outstanding team pressing, so we are fully aware of the challenges that await."