World Cup aftermath leaves Man United with nagging concern that threatens to ruin season – Sky

The end of the World Cup in North America has presented Michael Carrick and Manchester United with a new major concern, a fresh analysis has highlighted. United at the World Cup United were heavily represented at the just-concluded World Cup, which was expanded from 32 to 48 teams and lasted between Thursday 11 June and Sunday 19 July. It was won by Spain, who produced a dominant performance against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final. United had 13 players at the tournament. Casemiro and Matheus Cunha were included in the Brazil party named by Carlo Ancelotti. Noussair Mazraoui consistently featured for Morocco before their elimination to France in the quarter-final. Tyler Fletcher was an unused substitute in all of Scotland’s group games, as was goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. Amad had a significant impact for the Ivory Coast, scoring the winner versus Ecuador and adding a remarkable solo goal in their concluding fixture with Norway. Manuel Ugarte’s tournament was cut short after he sustained an ACL injury. Lisandro Martinez started every game for Argentina, including the final. He however lasted just 42 minutes against Spain before he was forced off with an injury. The other four United players involved were Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot (Portugal), as well as Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo (England). According to Sky Sports, United are among the Premier League clubs that could be most impacted by injuries after the World Cup. Fresh concern A total of 150 Premier League players featured at the World Cup, with United among a select group of clubs to contribute double figures to that tally. When it came to minutes on the pitch, Manchester City were in a league of their own with 5,595, comfortably clear of Arsenal (4,224) and Tottenham (3,318). United, by comparison, saw their players accumulate 2,969 minutes of World Cup action. ClubMinutes Played Man City5,595 Arsenal4,224 Spurs3,318 Aston Villa3,250 Liverpool3,028 Man Utd2,969 The length of each player’s tournament run carries real significance, with FIFA insisting on a mandatory three-week break ahead of the new campaign. For those like Martinez, who went all the way, that could spell major disruption to their pre-season schedule. Then there is the small matter of injuries. According to FIFA, United was heavily impacted by injuries at the World Cup. Youri Tielemans, who recently completed a move from Aston Villa to Old Trafford, sustained a hamstring injury which sidelined him from Belgium’s quarter-final tie against Spain. Ugarte picked up an ACL injury that will rule him out of action for up to nine months as he undergoes rehabilitation. Factoring in minutes, injuries, squad depth, and recent game time, Arsenal top the impact index as the hardest-hit club. Villa, United and Tottenham are next on this list. ClubImpact Index Arsenal87.0 Aston Villa85.9 Man Utd77.0 Spurs72.2 Man City68.2 Liverpool51.6 Sunderland45.1 Chelsea42.3 Crystal Palace35.0 Everton33.2 Carrick and his coaching staff will no doubt be mindful of these factors as they step up their pre-season planning. Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!