Man United are back in the Champions League but have plenty to worry about

Under Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, the Red Devils were a regular in the business end of the competition, winning two trophies and reaching two more finals.

However, since the Scot's departure at the end of the 2012/13 season, the club have failed to progress past the quarter-finals in seven attempts, often appearing in the Europa League.

Now United are back in the big time under former player-turned-manager Michael Carrick, but can he make a dent in the latter stages of the Champions League?

Manchester United's Champions League woes

When Man United were defeated 3-1 by a legendary Barcelona team in the 10/11 Champions League final, nobody could have fathomed the club's demise.

United were so good in England that it was boring, and they regularly progressed deep into Europe's premier competition, often with a chance of winning it.

In Fergie's last two years at the club, the Red Devils exited in the group stage and the Round of 16 after losing to Real Madrid and have since struggled to navigate the crunch games.

Of course, the three-time European champions have been far from stable, with seven managers in almost 13 years, but neither José Mourinho nor Louis van Gaal could find a way through to the final four.

Since reaching the final in 10/11, the club have bowed out in the group phase four times and have failed to reach the semi-finals, falling significantly below the standards we were accustomed to.

Could squad depth be an issue?

Carrick's tenure as caretaker manager was a roaring success, and with only two defeats in 16 games, it was impossible for him not to be given the job permanently.

Over the summer, United bulked up in midfield with Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos adding another dimension and adding depth to a thin position.

The Red Devils also have several attacking options who should thrive in the Champions League, including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford.

However, defensively, Carrick's side have looked frail, and that is unsurprising since not one defender was brought to the club during the summer transfer window.

Yes, there are some decent options with Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, but it is a given the club will lose defenders to injury and they aren't blessed with depth.

Ayden Heaven is improving but needs time, while the full-back positions should have been strengthened; it would be a miracle if Shaw remained fit for an entire season while Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are weaker options on the right.

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United handed tough Champions League fixtures

This is the first time Man United will play in the Champions League since it introduced the league phase in the 24/25 season, and it would be a failure if the club did not progress.

An opening home tie with the lowest-ranked team in the competition, Sabah, is the ideal start for Carrick, and it is a must-win given the level of opponents that follow.

Back-to-back away trips to Como and Atletico Madrid will be tricky, while Roma, Sporting CP, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Villarreal are all difficult fixtures.

The Red Devils would do very well to advance without the need for a play-off, but when analysing their start to the season, they are incredibly hard to predict.

Last season's hammering of Manchester City and this term's defeat to Hull City highlight how hot and cold Carrick's men can be, but I would be astonished if this squad made it past the quarter-finals.

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