Manchester United have launched an internal investigation to find out how their starting XI was leaked hours before last week’s derby win against Manchester City.
The Sun reports that club officials are determined to root out the “mole” responsible for sharing confidential team news, and the issue persists despite the recent change of manager from Ruben Amorim to interim manager Michael Carrick.
Manchester United have a longstanding leak problem
The leak accurately predicted Carrick’s starting line-up, including the surprise addition of Patrick Dawg and the tactical development of Brian Mbeumo, well in advance of the official announcement.
Unfortunately for the Old Trafford hierarchy, this is a recurring nightmare. The dressing room leak problem was a source of great frustration for former manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim faced a similar situation in December when plans to tweak the tactical system against Bournemouth were made public on match day.
At the time, Amorim expressed a sense of helplessness, saying, “I don’t think it can be repaired…It’s hard to know because I can talk to my friends.”
The problem goes back further, particularly to Jose Mourinho’s tenure. The Portuguese manager has famously battled internal information leaks, even sarcastically saying at the 2018 FA Cup final press conference that reporters knew about the team before he did.
The continuation of these leaks suggests there are deeper cultural issues within Manchester United that go beyond a single manager.
Why leaks are a serious concern
While supporters often enjoy early news about their team on social media, United view the incident as a major strategic breach.
At Premier League level, losing the element of surprise can have a direct impact on match preparation.
For caretaker managers like Michael Carrick looking to introduce new ideas and tactical tweaks, the leaked squad gives opposition analysts valuable time to adapt.
With elite matches often decided by close points, United fear repeated leaks could undermine competitive integrity and erode internal trust.
Great start to life under Michael Carrick
Despite the off-field drama, his time on the pitch under Michael Carrick started brightly.
The interim manager led United to an impressive 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City in his first game as manager, with goals from Dorg and Mbeumo proving his bold appointment.
Carrick has already distinguished himself by engaging with the academy and intensifying training sessions, bringing an element of comfort back to Old Trafford that the club will be desperately defending against internal sabotage.
