Carrick praises De Ligt, but United waits for his return

Michael Carrick gives a very positive update on Matthijs de Ligt, but the exact date of his return to Manchester United remains unclear. While the Dutchman is already taking part in group training again, the question remains whether he will appear on the pitch soon.

Positive update and open question

“I have absolutely no problem if he plays,” Carrick said at the press conference ahead of the Champions League tie with Atlético Madrid. He emphasised that the timing and the amount of playing time still need to be determined.

The 27‑year‑old defender featured a little in the friendly match against Lausanne and has been training intensively ever since, Carrick added. Yet everything is being looked at step by step, so the return is not forced too much or too quickly.

The manager of The Red Devils adds: “So it’s not too much and not too quickly.” He states that he has absolute confidence in the Dutch centre‑back and that there is no doubt about his quality.

Matthijs de Ligt returns to Manchester United after months

On Tuesday evening Manchester United and Atlético Madrid start at 21:00 in the Spanish capital in a League duel of the Champions League. The moment De Ligt will play, however, remains uncertain.

De Ligt has been out of rotation for almost a year; his last action for United was on 30 November 2025 against Crystal Palace. Since then he has been battling a stubborn back injury, which means he has not yet fully recovered.

Manchester United hopes for De Ligt for Champions League duel with Atlético

This combination of an enthusiastic update from Michael Carrick and the Red Devils’ cautious approach shows that the club is optimistic, but remains careful about the Dutchman’s definitive return.