Michael Carrick arranges secret friendly for struggling Manchester United

Manchester United will face Lausanne-Sport in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the current international break. Manager Michael Carrick is using the fixture to test new tactical approaches away from public scrutiny as the squad looks to regroup following a dismal start to the 2026-27 campaign.

Specific details regarding the date and venue remain undisclosed. Lausanne, which also operates under the INEOS umbrella, is currently enduring a difficult season of its own, sitting at the bottom of the Swiss domestic league table.

The match highlights a broader crisis across Ratcliffe's multi-club network. Alongside United and Lausanne, French side Nice is struggling in 14th place in Ligue 1, while the United Women's team has also experienced a sluggish start to their campaign.

For Carrick's men, this season marks their worst start to a Premier League campaign. With only one league victory so far, pressure is mounting following a recent draw at Fulham and a disappointing exit from the League Cup against Brighton. Despite fitness concerns raised by some, Carrick remains confident in his squad's physical levels.

"It didn't look like that to me. I was quite happy with the way we finished the game. I thought we finished the game really strongly actually and we kept pushing. So I don't think that's an issue, no," said Michael Carrick.

Carrick faces a season-defining run of fixtures upon the return of domestic football. The Red Devils host Tottenham on October 10, beginning a punishing month that also includes high-stakes encounters against Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, Como, Bournemouth, and Chelsea.