Manchester United Duo Ruled Out of Atletico Madrid Clash in Champions League

According to a report by Metro on . Monday October 12, 2026, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw will miss Tuesday’s Champions League encounter against Atletico Madrid after both players suffered injuries during Saturday’s Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

United travel to Spain hoping to rediscover their form after opening their European campaign with an impressive 4-0 victory over Sabah. However, they have subsequently gone four consecutive matches without winning.

Their disappointing results have increased pressure on Carrick, whose position has reportedly come under scrutiny less than six months after being appointed permanent manager of the Premier League giants.

Speaking before the Atletico encounter, Carrick confirmed that Mainoo and Shaw would not travel with the squad because of their respective fitness problems.

“They’ve not travelled, they both picked up issues in the game on Saturday against Spurs, and we were working through that to see what that looks like,” the United manager explained.

“At the moment, they are not ready for the game tomorrow. But we’re not light on numbers,” Carrick added, insisting that the absences would not leave his team short of available players.

Despite the setbacks, the manager welcomed the opportunity for younger members of his squad to experience the atmosphere surrounding an important European fixture, highlighting the benefits of travelling with the senior team.

Carrick also expressed satisfaction at having Matthijs de Ligt available again after the defender worked through his fitness problems. The Dutch international has been carefully managed during his recovery, with United delighted to welcome him back into contention.

Meanwhile, Carrick revealed that captain Bruno Fernandes has been managing an injury during the opening stages of the campaign, offering an explanation for some of the midfielder’s recent inconsistent performances.

“Bruno is a top player, and sometimes things don’t quite go for you,” Carrick said, defending the Portuguese midfielder while expressing confidence in his ability to recover his best form.

The United boss added that Fernandes had played through physical discomfort, explaining that such situations are common among professional footballers during demanding seasons.

“He was carrying something. It happens a lot, people don’t realise it,” Carrick revealed, confirming that the captain was almost over the problem and looking forward to the upcoming fixture.

Carrick also stressed that nobody is guaranteed a starting position, explaining that performances, behaviour and commitment would determine selection as United attempt to improve their results and compete successfully across all competitions.

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