Manchester United have had the spotlight taken away from them during the international break, thanks to Manchester City's Premier League guilty verdict.
The international break started with intense scrutiny of Manchester United and yet another disappointing start to the campaign, heaping pressure upon their manager. A meagre five points from five matches and several abysmal performances had left questions and anxieties mounting around Michael Carrick. Had it not been for Matheus Cunha's late leveller at Fulham, the three-week period at Carrington could have proved exceptionally challenging.
City's verdict shifts the focus
While Carrick isn't facing imminent dismissal, no football club commands headlines quite like United, and three weeks without club fixtures invariably presents a period of vulnerability, when scrutiny intensifies on why United have faltered. Then Manchester City and the Premier League intervened.
The most extraordinary saga in Premier League history has shifted attention away from United and every other side. From Friday's news that the verdict had arrived through to Wednesday's Premier League statement, radio phone-ins, newspaper opinion pieces and social media discussion have been consumed by City, their actions and what lies ahead.
United enjoy a rare calm period
Carrick and United? Suddenly, silence has descended. The sole context in which United are currently being mentioned relates to the compensation they might believe is owed to them should City's guilty verdict stand.
Instead, attention among United supporters has turned to ridiculing their cross-city adversaries and examining a ruling that represents a seismic shift in the league's landscape. Within Premier League circles, it's widely acknowledged that there is only one club in turmoil right now.
One of the major storylines will always be when a club are in trouble. It is a tale that amplifies scrutiny and tension. United are hovering near that position, as are Tottenham. Yet this week it's the side sitting atop the table with an unblemished record that finds itself in that spotlight. The barriers have gone up at the Etihad, with a defensive mindset now prevailing, diverting focus from every other side in the division.
Reset ahead of a vital run
Consequently, it's been a relatively calm period for United. The squad reconvened for training this week and while matters haven't gone entirely smoothly, with injury worries emerging during the international window, it presents an opportunity to reset and concentrate before a vital sequence of fixtures.
That this can occur without conjecture surrounding Carrick's position or future developments can only help. While it may simply be external speculation about the head coach, conversations with experienced personnel at the club suggest it can leave its mark.
Operations run far more smoothly when the atmosphere surrounding the team remains settled and subdued. Thanks to Manchester City, that's precisely the current situation. The demands will intensify once matches resume and Carrick recognises results are essential, but throughout this week and the next, he's been afforded the perfect working conditions.
