Michael Carrick Injury Leaves Manchester Utd Facing Nervy Champions League Chase

Michael Carrick has been ruled out for the season, and where once Manchester United's target of Champions League qualification appeared to have been all but achieved, now a nerve-jangling run-in could be in the offing.

The last few weeks have added considerable tension to the Red Devils' attempts to return to Europe's top table. It has come as an unpleasant shock after a run of superb form put them in the driver's seat for a top-four finish.

That run came to an end in Carrick's absence against Chelsea in April.

It is overly simplistic to say that United's dip in form has been entirely down to the midfielder's absence. He and Daley Blind were out at the same time, along with two central defenders, and Chelsea are, of course, a very good side.

However, that his injury has been followed by three defeats in a row seems more than a coincidence. This season, United have lost eight times in the league. Only two of those games featured Carrick—although he did play in the FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.

The best football that United have played under Louis van Gaal has come with the Englishman anchoring their midfield in a 4-3-3. His presence allowed Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini licence to roam up field and offered protection to his centre-backs.

Now that Carrick is out for the season, Van Gaal will have to find a viable alternative, without compromising his side's attacking penetration.

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Against Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion, Herrera played the holding role. On both occasions he performed well.

However, the side looked far less balanced than it had done in games where he had played further forward. The triangles of interplay on both flanks which had been so beguiling during United's good run looked less effective with Herrera in the middle.

Against Everton, Blind was tasked with the Carrick role. Whether his fitness was compromised by his previous injury, or whether his lack of game time in central midfield had left him a little rusty, Blind was unable to provide the same level of cover to his defenders that Carrick—usually—does and United slumped to a heavy defeat.

Blind's passing accuracy in that game was also poor. He completed just 78 percent of his 59 passes, a number way below Carrick's norm. Across the season the Englishman has completed an incredibly consistent 89.6 percent of an average of 60.5 passes per game.

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In the interests of balance, it is worth pointing out that the Everton performance was out of character for Blind, from a passing perspective, as he averages an 87.8 percent pass completion for the season.

Whether Blind or Herrera deputises for Carrick against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and for the season's final two fixtures against Arsenal and Hull City, will depend on the fitness of other players.

It may be that the performances against Chelsea, Everton and West Brom will force Van Gaal to reconsider his system in the absence of Carrick. However. chopping and changing the formation has had a negative effect on United's momentum at various points this season.

Van Gaal's response to a journalist's question at Friday's press conference (h/t Full Time Devils) also made it seem unlikely he would change the system. He disagreed with the assertion that United's recent performances had been disappointing, saying:

"

After Chelsea I said we played our best match.

After Everton I think we were not at the same level as Everton wants to win that game [Van Gaal appeared to mean United's hunger to win was less than Everton's], but we played a lot of phases very good in that match.

After West Bromwich Albion I have said we have created so many chances against a very defensive organisation.

"

Thus it seems likely that United will persist with 4-3-3. In spite of Van Gaal's protestations, it remains to be seen whether it can be deployed effectively without Carrick. After all, however well the Dutchman feels United played, the fact is they have not scored a goal in any of those three games.

United go into the game against Palace knowing that six points from three games will guarantee them Champions League football. Carrick's presence would be a reassuring one.

However, given that he is absent for the season, it is time for United to find a way to win without him. It has been a shaky run, but victory over Palace would go a long way towards settling those nerves.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.