Michael Carrick was left to rue Manchester United’s failure to kill off 10-man Tottenham after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for headbutting Luke Shaw at Old Trafford.
Carrick admitted it ‘hurt’ to be booed by fans after Dominic Solanke struck in injury-time to give Spurs a 1-1 draw and leave United with six points from six league games – their worst start in 40 years since Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson in November 1986.
It was the second Premier League game in a row at home that United – who also conceded a late equaliser at Everton last month – couldn’t beat 10 men after losing the Old Trafford derby to Manchester City.
‘When things aren’t quite going to plan, I understand the reaction at times,’ said Carrick of the boos at the end of both halves. ‘Obviously, it hurts, you know. It hurts a lot. It’s not nice to go through, but sometimes you have to go through it.
‘I care as much as anybody about this club. But it’s coming from a good place really, and so I understand it.
‘I’m not happy with the amount of points we’ve had so far. There’s no hiding from that. I’m not hiding. That’s the reality and we’ve got to accept it. We need to put things in a positive direction quite quickly, that’s pretty plain.
Michael Carrick was left frustrated at his Man United side’s 1-1 draw with Spurs on Saturday
‘That’s two late, late goals against us to throw away two wins. So that changes a lot of things. It changes the feelings among ourselves and it changes the points.
‘We need to do better with seeing out games once we get ourselves in a good position, that’s for sure. We’re more than capable of doing that. We’ve just got to be a little bit more streetwise in the moments and a little bit more stubborn and strong.
‘It’s definitely something where, 10 men or not 10 men, if we’re ahead in games, we’ve got to see them out.’
Tottenham are still without a win in their six Premier League games this season, but the manner of their performance and fightback gave Roberto De Zerbi plenty of reason to feel positive.
The Italian admitted that Bentancur’s reaction to being pushed by Shaw was the wrong one, but bizarrely revealed that he kissed the player in the dressing-room afterwards because he showed some fighting spirit.
‘I kissed Rodrigo and say thanks,’ revealed De Zerbi. ‘It is clearly a mistake from Rodrigo, it is not the right reaction in football.
‘But now Tottenham needs to react. Sometimes the reaction is not nice, not positive for the team, but in that moment maybe with 10 players we played with more courage more energy.
‘For a long time Tottenham played without this blood and this character. Now I am the coach and I want to see this character every game. With the qualities and the character and the right energy, we are going to win many games and score many goals.’
