Michael Carrick dismissed claims that his Manchester United squad was too subdued following their 1-1 draw against Fulham.
After Senne Lammens blocked Calvin Bassey’s shot, which then deflected off Lisandro Martinez and into the net in the 63rd minute, Carrick’s team was at risk of suffering a third consecutive loss across all competitions.
However, just a minute before the end of regular time, Matheus Cunha’s long-range effort took a lucky deflection off David Affengruber and found its way past Bernd Leno, allowing United to head into the international break with a draw.
Nonetheless, Carrick will have plenty to think about during the three-week break, as United’s five points this season equal their lowest total after five matches in a Premier League season, matching their performance in 2014-15.
Former United full-back and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville compared the team’s defensive play to that of “mannequins,” a comparison Carrick refuted.
When asked if he believed United were too passive, Carrick replied, “I didn’t feel that way. Did you think we were passive? Football is complex. We controlled much of the first half and played some decent football today. There will be periods when things don’t go your way.
“The goal they scored had a questionable foul on Matheus and came from two deflections. It’s unrealistic to expect complete dominance throughout the match; no team achieves that in this league. We need to keep things in perspective. It’s not a definitive judgment on us.
“We recognize where we can improve, and we will. There were encouraging signs that will carry us through the season.”
5 – With five points, this is Manchester United’s joint-lowest tally after five games of a Premier League season, also picking up five in 2014-15.
Sluggish. pic.twitter.com/UZTBWRpGnm
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 20, 2026
Manchester United registered a total of 29 shots, marking their second-highest tally for an away Premier League match since Opta began tracking data in 2003-04; they had 30 shots against Burnley last January.
They also hit the woodwork six times this Premier League season, with Bruno Fernandes striking the post from a prime position when the score was 0-0. This is the highest number of any team in the league and the most times they have hit the woodwork in the first five matches on record.
“I believed we should have secured the win; we created enough opportunities to do so,” Carrick stated. “We had substantial good play, although the goal we conceded was unfortunate.
“I was impressed with our reaction and how we finished the match; it could have easily gone another way. We almost clinched a victory at the end. We aimed to win, and the way we concluded the game provides a positive takeaway.
“Their goalkeeper made excellent saves, earning him Player of the Match, while we also hit the post. There were many good aspects to consider.”
After the three-week break, United will face struggling Tottenham at home on October 10, followed by a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid three days later.
Fan Take: This news underscores the intense pressure Manchester United faces as they grapple with an underwhelming start to the season. For soccer fans, it highlights the critical need for teams to find their rhythm quickly, especially considering the competitive nature of both domestic and European leagues.
Source: www.soccernews.com
