Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has defended his team’s performance following their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, insisting that there were positive aspects to the game despite another disappointing result.
United appeared set for a third consecutive defeat in all competitions after falling behind in the second half, but Matheus Cunha rescued a point with a deflected effort in the 89th minute. The result leaves Carrick’s side with five points from their opening five Premier League matches.
The draw came after United had suffered a Premier League defeat to Manchester City last weekend and then surrendered a two-goal advantage against Brighton in the League Cup during the week.
Despite the difficult run, Carrick rejected suggestions that his players had been passive at Craven Cottage. The former United midfielder argued that his side controlled significant portions of the opening half and said it was unrealistic to expect complete dominance throughout a Premier League match.
“I didn’t think we were,” Carrick said when asked whether United had been passive. He added that his team had controlled much of the first half and that Premier League matches naturally contain periods when a side does not have complete control.
United had chances to take the lead before Fulham eventually opened the scoring. Bruno Fernandes struck the post, while Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno produced several important saves to keep the visitors from scoring.
Fulham eventually took advantage of a chaotic moment in United’s defence. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens saved Calvin Bassey’s effort, but Lisandro Martinez attempted to clear the loose ball and inadvertently diverted it into his own net in the 63rd minute.
The goal increased the pressure on United, who had struggled to create consistent attacking momentum. However, the visitors responded strongly in the closing stages, with Cunha eventually finding the equaliser after his long-range effort took a deflection before beating Leno.
Carrick said he believed United had done enough to win the match, pointing to the number of opportunities created by his players.
“I thought we should have won the game, I thought we created enough to win the game,” the manager said. He also praised the reaction of his players after conceding, saying that they could have become discouraged but instead continued pushing for an equaliser.
Reuters reported that United registered 29 attempts compared with Fulham’s 12, although the visitors were criticised for periods of poor urgency and concentration, particularly early in the second half.
Carrick also played down questions about the pressure surrounding his position, saying his principal concern was the team’s results rather than speculation about his future.
“What bothers me is that we want better results,” he said, while acknowledging that United were not close to perfection and needed to start winning matches.
The result means United enter the international break without the response they would have wanted after their recent setbacks. Their next Premier League fixture is scheduled to be a home meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
For Carrick, the break provides an opportunity to address the defensive errors, inconsistency and lack of urgency that have characterised United’s recent performances. While the late equaliser prevented another defeat, the manager’s assessment suggests that he remains focused on the aspects of the performance he believes can be built upon.
Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa, meanwhile, expressed frustration at failing to secure his first Premier League victory, but said he was encouraged by the way his players performed. Fulham had also drawn with Liverpool before sharing the points with United.
