Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said he was disappointed to miss suspended centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire in Saturday’s 2025-26 Premier League match against Chelsea, with both teams looking to secure a spot in the Champions League.
Martinez was sent off during Monday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds United for pulling the hair of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Argentina international was later handed a three-match ban.
Maguire, who was sent off in a draw against Bournemouth last month, was handed a one-match ban by the FA on Wednesday.
“The decisions have been made, something we are very disappointed with in many ways, but we have to move on now, and that is what we will do,” Carrick told reporters on Friday.
“It is what it is, we have been affected by some decisions, but we have to accept it and move on,” he added.
However, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who has been injured for more than two weeks, could return on Saturday, Carrick said. «Kobbie has been doing little things, we are working towards them. A decision has to be made,» he noted.
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United, third in the league, have won just one of their last four games but Carrick said his team can take heart from their performances under pressure in recent games.
Carrick’s side fought back against Leeds with 10 men and scored a goal in the second half before falling short.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted against Leeds, but the way we finished the game and the character we showed is something we need to take into this game with an extra player,” he said.
Chelsea, four points below the top five, have also struggled in the past month, losing five of six games in all competitions, including three successive defeats in the Premier League.
But Carrick said he expected a tough match, with United winless at Stamford Bridge since February 2020.
«It’s a tough place to go, it always has been. We’ve played some tough games there. It has the feel of a real, good match, so we’ll be ready for that. We’ve prepared well and take the confidence from what we’ve built,» he said.
Published on April 17, 2026
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