Carrick explains why Mount was taken off against PSG
By Joel Masibo, August 9, 2026Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has explained the decision to substitute Mason Mount during the club’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
Mount’s involvement lasted just 20 minutes before he was replaced by Tyler Fletcher, with the midfielder receiving a knock that prompted United’s coaching staff to take no chances.
Carrick was also forced to monitor another fitness concern during the match, as goalkeeper Tom Heaton required attention in the second half before being replaced by Dermot Mee.
Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster VG after the entertaining encounter, which formed part of Tour 2026 presented by Snapdragon, Carrick said Mount’s early departure was primarily a precautionary measure.
“He just got a kick,” said Carrick. “So we just wanted [it] to be a precaution really, to look after him.
“We want to keep the group strong and we’ve been fortunate to get everyone to this stage fit and well, so we wanted to be careful with that.”
The United boss therefore indicated that the club was unwilling to risk aggravating Mount’s issue at this stage of pre-season, particularly with the squad having largely avoided significant fitness problems.
United will return to action on Wednesday evening, August 12, 2026, when they face Leeds United at Dublin’s Croke Park.
Carrick optimistic ahead of new campaign
After holding the European champions, Carrick believes his team is making encouraging progress as preparations for the new Premier League season enter their final stage.
With only two pre-season fixtures remaining, Carrick is particularly keen to have the majority of his squad working together during the team’s upcoming training camp in County Kildare.
Reflecting on the next stage of preparations after the PSG match, Carrick told MUTV:
“I’m looking forward to it,” Carrick said of the upcoming stay near Dublin. “It’s been, a little bit, different chapters through pre-season and we’ll get everybody together, when we get to Dublin over the next couple of days.
“It’ll be great, two more games this week and, again, I’m looking forward to seeing the group develop.”