Carrick rejects Cunha’s claim United lacked energy after Fulham draw
Michael Carrick insisted Manchester United did not lack energy after they recovered to earn a 1-1 draw at Fulham in Sunday’s match.
The home side covered a collective 6.6km more than United, a statistic Matheus Cunha cited when he criticised his team after the contest, saying: “In the beginning of the second half, Fulham put in more energy than us and we cannot accept this.” United conceded a Lisandro Martínez own goal in the 63rd minute and the draw came in a week that also saw them lose the derby to Manchester City and exit the Carabao Cup against Brighton, both fixtures at Old Trafford.
Cunha’s 89th-minute effort produced the equaliser after his shot was heavily deflected off Fulham defender David Affengruber to wrongfoot Bernd Leno. Carrick said he disagreed with Cunha’s assessment: “I don’t, particularly,” the manager said. “The way we finished the game … it didn’t look like that for me. I was quite happy with the way we finished the game. We kept pushing. I don’t think that’s an issue, no.”
On the reaction to falling behind, Carrick singled out his players’ response. “The response [to the own goal] was really pleasing … the way we went about trying to get back into the game. [We] kept the ideas, kept the patience, kept the real purpose to it. We finished on a positive, which is a small step for us … without getting carried away it’s a good step. We came to take three points but at least we’ve taken something to build on moving forward.”
Carrick addressed the narrow margins that have affected United so far this season and said he remained encouraged. “It has been pretty fine margins [so far this season] that have flipped it [the wrong way]. I know we can do better, we need to do better at certain things. But I’m not despondent and down because we’re showing some good signs.” A section of the United support booed his substitution of Kobbie Mainoo in the 80th minute when Mason Mount was introduced; Carrick responded: “There’s always going to be certain reactions when you’re making changes. I understand. We’re chasing the game and everyone’s a little bit emotional. I don’t take any negatives or offence to it.”
Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa criticised the officials after the match and linked their decisions to events in the previous week’s City game, when Erling Haaland’s winner stood despite Enzo Fernández being in an offside position. Arbeloa told Sky Sports: “All the fouls for them. You can see before they scored, the foul against Maguire … he’s a guy who is 100 kilos. Every decision was for them. And I knew. I knew after the game against Manchester City that they [would not] let Manchester United lose here.” He later moderated his remarks in his main press conference but said he was “not really happy”.
Sky co-commentator Gary Neville strongly criticised United’s early second-half performance, calling the period “absolutely pathetic” and saying: “I’ve watched Manchester United since the age of five and that’s the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen such a lack of effort. What must Michael Carrick be thinking?” The referee, Peter Bankes, gave Fulham the benefit of the doubt in the 86th minute after a Martínez shot struck Calvin Bassey’s hand in the area; Bassey put his hand up but it remained close to his body.
Carrick said the club did not feel deflated despite the run of results and stressed a long season remained. “It’s still a big season ahead,” he said. “It’s a long season and you’re going to have spells through it. That’s part of the journey. “I’m not playing it down. We wanted more points. I’m not saying everything’s great. I understand the frustration. But deflation is certainly not what we have within the club. The players didn’t have that on the pitch today and that’s what will carry us through the season.”