Manchester United

Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo on joining Manchester United and playing in the Champions League : "Obviously it means a big step for me coming from Ligue 1 in France to such a big club here and playing the Champions League is a massive reward for me and I'm really looking forward to it."

"In my head, I saw a bit like the team and the players and I knew I could have good connections with the guys here. And also, I received some messages from the players before I came and I was really convinced that we could achieve something good."

"I think it's the first time I watched the draw from the Champions League. But yeah, obviously really excited to play any kind of games, and yeah, every country, every team is different, and it's always good to go there and see."

"I've been used to play a few positions in the attack, like even in my first season professional back in the days in Troyes, I was playing right, left, central. So, obviously, I got some preferences, like I wouldn't say key positions on the field, but I can have them rather when I play centrally or wide, so doesn't really matter. As long as I can play and perform for the team, I'm happy."

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on the Manchester derby and Manchester City having two extra days of rest: "I'm not concerned. I think, listen, I wouldn't say it's ideal in some ways, but it's not something that we've given too much thought about. We're not in control of that. We've got to deal with the cards that we're dealt and that's what it is, so we'll make the most of it."

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on how important the competition is to him and the club: "Yeah, it's a magical competition, you know. It's where we all want to be. When you're out of it, you realise how special it is and when you're in it, you want to make the most of it.

"I think we've all seen some special, special nights and felt some special things in this competition over the years. It's where we want to be, it's what we want to get back to, and it's the best competition to challenge yourself and to push against the best.

"We're delighted to be here, but we're not here to just enjoy the occasion. We're here to do business and go as far as we possibly can."

In major European competition, English sides have never lost against sides from Azerbaijan in 11 previous meetings (W10 D1).

All 11 of those games were against Qarabag between 2015-16 and 2025-26.

Manchester United are set to face an Azerbaijani side for the first time ever in European competition.

Image source, Getty Images

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on their targets and expectations: "I don't think it's a kind of going, "If we get to a certain stage, that's a success, and if we don't, it's not." I think it's... we've got to embrace the new challenge that we face as a group and push to what we can push to.

"I think we're capable of doing some really good things in this competition and going further down the line in this competition, and then who knows when it gets to that stage. I'm not writing anything off, but again, taking it step by step and certainly not getting ahead of ourselves, you know, because some part of it is a new experience for some of the players, and as a group it is a bit of a new experience right currently now.

"But the boys are used to playing European football for the most part in different competitions and we'll take that forward, and we've got a squad that's strong enough to compete."

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on his approach to selection: "Yeah, well, it's always a balanced view, I think. That's why we've got the squad and we're pushing to have as strong a squad as possible to be able to adapt to certain games and certain strengths and different ways of playing and different circumstances. We play Thursday, we play Sunday, we play Wednesday. It's what we're here for. So, it's about managing the group, of course it is, and having the trust in everyone who's able to play and will play."

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on the club only reaching two Champions League quarter-finals in 15 years: "To be humble enough to understand what recent history we have had, it doesn’t take away the drive and desire and expectation from all of us to want to be really successful.

"But I also think to be realistic and understand that, there is a balanced view of that. It is what is ahead of us that matters, whether that is coming into this in good shape and not so good shape, from recent history, it is about what we do next. We have got a team and a squad that is looking forward to this phase and We need to learn we need to keep improving and we need to make most of these opportunities."

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on the Champions League journey and showing their best players they can achieve: "We certainly can achieve it, we are capable of achieving it, it is up to us to take the steps to do that.

"It shows the steps we are trying to make from previous years of not being in the later stages of the competition. We have to be humble enough and realistic enough to know where we are coming from and where we want to get to. It is up to us to keep pushing the standards. We want to be the best we can possibly be. We want to be there as quickly as possible but it is understanding that there are steps to be put in place to be able to do that.

"We are capable of some really good things, especially on our day we feel like we can go up against anybody and come out on top. It is up to us to bring that over a consistent period of consistency through games and in the end gets you the results and hopefully puts us in the stages you spoke about."

Image source, Getty Images

Sabah qualified for the Champions League through the play-offs after overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Hapoel Beer-Sheva with a 5-2 extra-time victory in the return leg.

Formed as recent as 2017, Sabah won its first Azerbaijani league title in 2025/26 and also retained the Azerbaijani Cup.

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on Sabah's Champions League debut: "First of all I think they are a very well-coached team. You can see that quite clearly, the ideas, the principles that they have. They have won a lot of football matches over the last 12 months or so. Playing with a lot of confidence. You can see the way they are playing. They take the ball and play through the pitch, they have some good connections, press well as a team so we are obviously fully aware of what we are up against and the challenges that we face."

Carrick and Mbuemo have now left the press conference.

Stick with us, we will bring you the remaining full quotes from the duo before we end this live page.

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on what playing top flight European football means to him and the club: "It means an awful lot. It's challenging yourself against the elite, at the very best and I've said it before, I think, over a long, long period of time, this football club has been used to challenging with the best and being the best and it is not something you can take for granted. What it takes to be there and what it takes to stay there.

"We missed out on it for a number of years and now we are back so I think it means a lot. It is where we want to be every year. It is where we should expect to be without being ahead of ourselves. It is what we have to push for. It is the standards that we want to set and it is up to us to be able to do that. We made huge steps over the last few months or a year or so to make it in and finish the league to be in a strong position.

"Now it is about what is next and pushing into the next chapter, the next phase, the next evolution of the team and squad. This is certainly where we want to be. It is up to us now to make sure we stay."

Carrick said winning the Champions League in 2008 is the "best feeling" he has had in football.

He said it "would be nice to feel that again some day".

Mbuemo said he is happy to play centrally or out wide, but said it "doesn't matter if I can play for the team".

Sesko is "closer" to starting again for Manchester United and is "in a good place".

Carrick reminisced on European nights at Old Trafford and said the Champions League is a "magic" competition.

"We have all seen some special nights and seen some special things over the years. It's what we want to get back to."

On the importance to make a permanent return to the Champions League, especially with plans for a new stadium, Carrick said he wants to "keep pushing" the club.

He said winning games is the most important thing and says his side are "capable" of doing that.

On his expectations in the Champions League, Carrick will take the season "step by step" and will not "get ahead of themselves".

Image source, Getty Images

Ahead of a busier season with European football, Carrick said his side will "adapt" to different scenarios and playing multiple games a week is "what we are here for".

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on Luke Shaw: "We just gave him an extra recovery day today. We will see by tomorrow how he is but it is not an on-going thing or plan or anything like that off the back of the game the other day. As normal, each individual, there's different things we are managing and Luke is one of them today."