Manchester United head to Chelsea with the mood flat, the results worse, and the squad still in pieces. Eight games without a win tells its own story. The 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth made it uglier, and now Michael Carrick goes into another difficult fixture needing solutions that are not fully available to him.
This is the immediate problem for Manchester United. Form is bad, confidence is low, and several important players are either out, carrying something, or only just edging back into contention. Chelsea, free-scoring and full of rhythm, are not the opponents you want when your own house is a mess.
Benjamin Sesko absence leaves Manchester United short
The biggest setback is Benjamin Sesko. There is now clarity on the striker’s shin issue, and it is bad news. The Slovenian is not expected back until at least January 2027, which leaves United light up front for another two months at minimum.
That matters because Sesko had already dealt with a similar problem in 2025/26, when the issue cut short his campaign. He recovered in time to feature early this season, but his involvement had already become patchy. He was around matchday squads for a while, then disappeared before the trip to Fulham. Since the international break, he has remained absent.
For a team already struggling to score and create pressure in the right areas, losing a centre-forward for that long is a proper blow. There is no point dressing it up. United need goals, presence and a focal point. Sesko cannot offer any of that from the treatment room.
Potential return date: January 2027.
Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford fitness latest
There may, finally, be one piece of better news. Bruno Fernandes is expected to return for the trip to Stamford Bridge after being left out of the side that lost to Bournemouth. The context matters. His omission came after a very public falling out with Carrick following the heavy defeat to Como, and the optics were poor. Manager and captain have since held…
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