Michael Carrick has warned Manchester United to treat Atlético Madrid with the same respect as Barcelona and Real Madrid ahead of their Champions League meeting at the Metropolitano. His remarks were made at a pre-match press conference on Monday, October 12, before Tuesday’s Matchday 2 fixture.
“What Atlético has achieved is extraordinary,” Carrick said, as quoted by Marca. “It’s difficult to compare Atlético with Barcelona or Real Madrid because they have more titles, but when we face Atlético, we don’t treat them any differently.” He added that United regard Atlético as “as good as any team in this competition and as dangerous as any in Europe.”
The claim that Atlético’s Champions League pedigree is “unmatched” among non-traditional giants is too strong. Atlético have reached two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone, in 2014 and 2016, and have repeatedly been difficult opponents in the knockout stages. But their record does not surpass every club outside the traditional elite; their standing is better described as exceptional rather than unmatched.
Carrick also addressed Bruno Fernandes’s fitness. He confirmed that the captain had been carrying an injury earlier in the season but said the issue was now largely resolved, with only a slight remaining discomfort. “He is pretty much over it, but right now it’s not a major deal and he’s looking forward to the game,” Carrick said.
The original account’s description of Fernandes as “playing through injury” therefore needs refinement: Carrick did not present him as unavailable or seriously restricted, but as a player who had managed a minor issue and was expected to feature. He also declined to call Fernandes undroppable, saying no player is guaranteed a place in the team.
Manchester United’s defensive depth is a more immediate concern. Carrick confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw both picked up issues in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham and did not travel to Madrid. “At the moment, they are not ready for the game tomorrow,” he said.
Their absence compounds United’s selection problems. Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui are also sidelined, leaving Carrick with limited options at full-back, while Matthijs de Ligt has travelled and is available. The article’s reference to “key defenders like Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw” is imprecise: Mainoo is a midfielder, while Shaw is the defender.
The fixture is United’s second league-phase match, not their first away match of the campaign. United opened their Champions League campaign with a home win over Sabah, and Tuesday’s game at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano is scheduled for 8:00pm BST.
Carrick’s central message remains clear: United expect a demanding test against a team with extensive European experience under Simeone. But the more accurate framing is respect for Atlético’s proven Champions League record and current threat—not a claim that they outrank every other non-traditional European giant.
