Michael Carrick has overseen preparations for Manchester United's upcoming Champions League away fixture, with the club adopting a new approach to squad announcements this season by declining to officially confirm the travelling party ahead of continental away matches.
Despite the absence of a formal list, images released by the club showing players departing Manchester Airport on Monday have offered a clear picture of who made the journey to Spain. Among those pictured boarding the flight were Matheus Cunha, who is poised to come up against his former club, along with Carlos Baleba, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, Senne Lammens, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Matthijs de Ligt.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the club's decision to withhold official squad confirmations stems from a belief that revealing the information in advance could work against United's interests. Young defender Dan Armer was also spotted among the travelling group, while academy prospect Leny Yoro joined Carrick for his pre-match media duties in Madrid.
Not everyone pictured at the airport is expected to be involved, however, as several first-team players were seen training back in Manchester on Monday, suggesting they may not have made the trip. Those included Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo, Shea Lacey, Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. There have also been reports that highly rated academy talent Harry Amass has travelled with the group to Spain.
Speaking to reporters before the match, Carrick struck an optimistic tone about his squad's mentality and ability to bounce back from recent setbacks. "We're hugely positive. The boys have got the confidence in each other, and I've got the utmost belief in them," Carrick said.
The interim boss acknowledged that United's recent displays have been undermined by individual errors rather than a lack of overall quality, pointing to the manner in which goals have been conceded in their last few matches. "And it's very fine lines, you know. We didn't start the game very well the other day, and we all acknowledge that. The last three goals we've kind of conceded really in the league have all been avoidable and that changes things an awful lot," he explained.
Carrick went on to stress that small margins, rather than any fundamental issues, have been responsible for United's inconsistent form of late. "So it's very fine margins, you know. But I've got the utmost of confidence in the boys that we can win games and win a lot of games," he added.
The trip to Madrid represents a significant test for United as they look to build momentum in Europe's premier club competition. With a squad blending experienced internationals like Fernandes, Martinez and de Ligt alongside promising academy graduates such as Yoro and Armer, Carrick appears intent on fostering a culture of belief within the group regardless of the pressures surrounding recent results.
The return of Cunha to face his old club adds an extra narrative layer to the fixture, while the inclusion of young prospects on the travelling roster signals the club's continued willingness to blood academy talent in high-profile continental fixtures.
Attention will now turn to how Carrick's side perform on the pitch, with the manager eager to see his players translate their collective self-belief into a positive result against a team that knows Cunha well. United's approach to squad secrecy may continue for future away days in the competition, as the club looks to gain any possible edge amid a challenging campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.