Michael Carrick said he was “massively disappointed” after Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham at Old Trafford, a result that leaves his side with six points from their opening six league games and represents United’s worst start to a season since 1986.
United had appeared to be heading for only a second league victory of the campaign when Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring. But Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off in the 78th minute, five minutes after that goal, and 10-man Spurs went on to equalise through Dominic Solanke in added time.
“I am massively disappointed with the result, for sure. A mixed performance,” Carrick said. “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.”
United were disjointed throughout, and their supporters jeered at times during the game. Asked whether he felt let down by his players, Carrick said he did not. “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.”
On the reaction from the stands, Carrick added: “When things aren’t quite going to plan, I understand the reaction at times. 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.”
The dismissal capped a difficult afternoon for Bentancur, who might have caused a serious injury had a scissors-challenge on Luke Shaw connected and who was sent off for a head-butt in the resulting melee. Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi backed his midfielder and drew encouragement from the response of his remaining players. “I kiss Rodrigo and say thanks,” De Zerbi said. “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.”
Spurs’ late equaliser lifted them off the bottom of the table, though with only three points they remain winless and in the relegation zone. “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 said.