Michael Carrick has openly acknowledged that Manchester United must keep more clean sheets if they are to turn their stuttering season around — but the England-based club's defensive issues look set to persist for some time yet.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League fixture against Como at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium, Carrick offered no defence of his side's record when pressed on the matter. "You're dead right. I can't argue with that," he said. "There's definitely parts of our game we have to improve to make things easier. I am fully aware of that."

United have shut out the opposition only once in 10 games this season — in last month's victory over Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK. Carrick managed just six clean sheets in his 17 matches in charge last term, while his predecessor Ruben Amorim oversaw a return of nine shutouts across 63 games before him.

A defensive unit that cannot find stability

Continuity at the back has proved almost impossible to achieve. Carrick has named the same back four on only one occasion this season — the combination of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw that featured in the wins over Ipswich at Old Trafford on 30 August and at Everton the following week.

Ahead of the Como trip, Carrick described his fitness news as "a mixed bag." Matthijs de Ligt, sidelined for 11 months following back surgery in May, was declared "fit and ready," yet the Netherlands defender was unused on the bench at Leeds on Sunday when Martinez limped off with a thigh injury that has ruled him out of the trip to Italy entirely.

With Martinez absent, Carrick turned to Noussair Mazraoui — ordinarily a full-back — to fill the central defensive role. Leny Yoro is also unavailable through suspension, while Shaw remains unfit and is expected to miss games beyond the November international break — a longer absence than the 10 days Kobbie Mainoo will sit out.

The left-back problem nobody solved in the summer

Shaw's fragility has exposed a glaring weakness on Manchester United's left flank. Having started all 38 Premier League games last season and the opening three this term, the 31-year-old has featured only twice since, with his total of missed matches potentially reaching double figures before he returns.

When Dalot lined up at left-back against Leeds, he became the fifth different player to start in that position for United in just six games — and aside from Shaw, none of them is a natural left-back.

Nineteen-year-old Harry Amass, Shaw's stand-in during pre-season, is still waiting for his opportunity in the starting eleven. Carrick hinted that the wait may not last much longer. "He's right in contention," Carrick said. "At some point, young players need an opportunity. It's just finding the right time."

United did register an interest in Algeria international Rayan Ait-Nouri — speaking to Manchester City on deadline day — which suggests the left-back gap was identified before the window closed. The move never materialised, and the consequences are now plain to see.

Carrick defends the summer transfer window

The failure to bring in defensive reinforcements has drawn criticism of both Carrick and sporting director Jason Wilcox. There is sympathy within the game for Wilcox, who is understood to have been given a budget that many felt was insufficient to address United's needs.

Questions have been raised about whether the £50 million spent to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea was the best use of available funds. With Santos seated beside him at Tuesday's press conference, Carrick was measured in his response. "We had to make decisions in the summer. We did what we could do and made the best of it," he said. "This man next to us was a big part of that. I'm delighted to have him."

United's defensive record stands in stark contrast to Arsenal, who have recorded seven clean sheets in 11 matches this season as they challenge for Premier League honours — though Arsenal face their own test on Wednesday when they travel to take on Bayern Munich in Germany.