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Carrick: Everton draw feels like defeat
06th September, 2026 07:51 PM
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick expressed his deep disappointment following Sunday’s 2–2 draw against Everton, admitting the result felt like a defeat.
The Red Devils let a late lead slip away after Benjamin Šeško’s 87th-minute strike looked to have secured victory, only for Everton to snatch an equaliser in stoppage time at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s stunning 95th-minute equaliser proved sufficient for Everton to snatch a point at home, sealing a tough outing for the visitors.
Speaking after the dramatic encounter, Carrick reflected on the frustration of working hard to put the team in a winning position, only to come away without all three points:
Disappointed
“All the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages to then come away like that leaves us disappointed… it is not a great feeling, so it feels like a defeat,” Carrick stated.
“We got the point, we cannot ignore that, but it feels like we should have had a lot more. It sounds like a cliché to say so at this point.”
Positives
While acknowledging some positive aspects from the clash, Carrick emphasised that the defensive department needs immediate improvement to turn performances into wins:
“We need to concede fewer goals to give us a chance of winning games. There were a lot of good things in the game for us—we played some really good football and were dangerous at times. For the most part, we defended well as a team, but as the game went on, a few decisions made it more difficult for us when we really should have seen it out.”
United’s defensive woes
The draw leaves Carrick with four points out of a possible nine from his opening three Premier League matches of the 2026/27 campaign.
With defensive struggles still lingering, United face a steep challenge and immediate need for redress ahead as they prepare to host rival Manchester City, who have already scored seven goals in their opening fixtures.
The two arch rivals will contest the high-stakes Week 4 derby clash following their midweek European ties.
The outcome comes in the wake of Gary Neville’s sensational claim about United squad depth.
Speaking on Saturday, September 6, 2026, the former right-back raised a serious concerns over the club’s transfer strategy, accusing the hierarchy of failing to adequately bolster their backline before the summer deadline.
Neville warned that the current squad setup leaves manager Michael Carrick exposed to a potential crisis the moment injuries strike his key defenders.
“Michael, post-transfer deadline day, admitted he wanted to make more defensive signings. If Luke Shaw is to get injured—which he is so used to as the season progresses—or he comes under pressure, or Harry Maguire gets injured, then you look at what is left; they will be in real trouble.
Plenty of games to play
“The team playing right now is United’s best eleven. If that remains on the pitch, it is fine, but they have so much football to play, and they have left themselves short in defence,” he posited.
