Man Utd draw 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford as Patrick Dorgu nets 96th‑minute equaliser and Michael Carrick faces questions
Manchester United drew 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday in a Premier League match, with Patrick Dorgu scoring a 96th-minute equaliser after United scored twice in stoppage time to salvage a point.
Michael Carrick faced questioning over his future after the chaotic contest, and supporters alternated between boos and cheers during the game; full-back Diogo Dalot was jeered as he was replaced by Patrick Dorgu in the 66th minute. A banner reading "We don't want a new stadium, we want new owners" was hung from the second tier of the Stretford End, and chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox were at Old Trafford alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family. United sit 18th in the table, in the relegation zone, their lowest position for 40 years after playing at least 10 matches, and have not won a league game since beating Ipswich on 30 August; they have conceded 15 goals in their past five games.
The hosts twice came back from two-goal deficits and were trailing 4-2 as the match entered injury time. Joshua Zirkzee scored United's third in the second minute of added time and Dorgu's 96th-minute strike completed the comeback to make it 4-4; the United players celebrated the equaliser and then applauded supporters who remained. Three minutes and 40 seconds was the earliest they have ever trailed 2-0 in a Premier League game.
When Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison asked Carrick about his future the manager responded sharply: "That's not going to happen." When asked further, Carrick said: "Will there?" and added, "You're telling me what you think," before declaring, "I'm quite clear what direction the club needs to go in. It's got to win games." Later he told reporters: "There's more than enough," and said, "Goals change games and you've got to deal with it. It's something we have to improve on drastically. We're just making it too difficult for ourselves at certain times. "[The players] are switched on and concentrated, it's a variety of things. There's not a theme to it, apart from these one-off moments are catching us out at the moment."
Former United captain Roy Keane, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "On the one hand it's dreadful to give up four goals at home," and added: "But they kept going, so you have to give them a little bit of praise. "In terms of the bigger picture it's that rollercoaster of watching Manchester United. When you turn up most weeks there really is the feeling of not knowing what you're going to get." Former striker Dion Dublin told BBC Sport: "There's only so many times you can do that because it's quite tiring, physically and mentally. The players today were walking around after the game like they had lost, even though they got a point." Some post-match interviews by United players backed that observation.
Dorgu said of the situation: "I don't feel happy - we are in a bad situation," and added: "We need to fight together to get out of it. "Everyone needs to look at themselves and ask if they are doing enough. We need to fight for the manager, for the club and get out of this together." Dalot was jeered off when substituted and Zirkzee, who had been on the bench, offered his team-mate a consoling hug; Zirkzee had previously suffered similar treatment in a match against Newcastle almost two years ago. Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was furious at the late collapse, stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle and said: "They have the capacity, power, players and everything to overcome this situation."
The result leaves Manchester United in the relegation zone and raises questions for the club hierarchy — Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Glazer family, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox — as they consider next steps; United's next league fixture is at Anfield against Liverpool on 22 November.
