Michael Carrick registered profound disappointment following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, conceding that the side requires further results after managing just six points from their opening six league matches.
The stalemate marked United’s weakest start to a season since 1986, with Saturday’s result culminating in an injury-time equaliser from Dominic Solanke against a ten-man Spurs outfit, following Rodrigo Bentancur’s dismissal in the 78th minute. The Argentine midfielder was shown a red card five minutes after Bryan Mbeumo’s strike had put United in line for only their second league victory.
Carrick commented: “I am massively disappointed with the result, for sure. A mixed performance. I’m not happy with the amount of points that we’ve had so far. There’s no hiding from that. I think it could have been different for a couple of little things here or there, but the reality is the reality, we’ve got to accept it, you know. We need to put things in a direction, in a positive direction quite quickly, that’s pretty plain.”
Describing United as disjointed throughout, Carrick was asked whether he felt let down by his squad. “I don’t feel let down, because you can make mistakes. You can make mistakes, things go against you,” he said. “I’ve made mistakes in games, and it’s not so much letting everyone down. We’ve all got standards, we’ve all got levels, the players have got levels and standards, and they hold their hands up at times when something goes against them.”
United supporters jeered on occasion during the match. “When things aren’t quite going to plan, I understand the reaction at times,” the manager said. “Obviously, it hurts a lot. It’s not nice to go through, but sometimes you have to go through it, that’s how it is.”
“I care as much as anybody about this place, so sometimes you could say too much because then it overspills. But it’s coming from a good place, really, and so I understand it.”
Bentancur’s scissors challenge on Shaw could have resulted in serious injury had it connected. Roberto De Zerbi defended his midfielder, who was dismissed for a head-butt amidst the ensuing scuffle.
“I kiss Rodrigo and say thanks,” said the Spurs manager. “It is clear it is a mistake from Rodrigo, it is not the right reaction in football but in that moment maybe with 10 players we played with more courage, more energy and for a long time Tottenham played without this blood this character. I am the coach and I want to see this character every game.”
Although Spurs remain winless on three points and sit in the relegation zone, they have moved off the bottom. “Today has been the game where for the first time this season we showed we are a team, we played for the teammates, we played together,” De Zerbi added.
