Manchester United’s Late Collapse Against Everton Leaves Carrick Frustrated

Michael Carrick admitted Manchester United’s 2-2 draw felt like a defeat – and then dropped a worrying hint over Marcus Rashford’s fitness.

United twice let the lead slip late on, and the mood around the manager’s post-match press conference matched the scoreline: flat, frustrated, and laced with concern over his in-form forward.

United lose grip late on

Bryan Mbeumo had seemingly set United on their way with a superb curling strike, a finish that gave them control and briefly quietened the anxiety that has crept into their start to the season.

They couldn’t hold it.

Tyrique George struck back in the 83rd minute, matching Mbeumo’s quality with a brilliant effort of his own to drag Everton level and tilt the momentum. United responded, and when Benjamin Sesko powered in a header two minutes from time, Carrick’s side looked to have survived the wobble.

They didn’t hold that either.

Debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles stepped up with a stunning finish into the top corner to make it 2-2, punishing United’s inability to close the game out and leaving Carrick to sift through the wreckage of another lead surrendered.

“Yeah, we're disappointed, bitterly disappointed,” Carrick said. “To be up in the position we were in, [leading] the game twice and so close to the end… to then come away like that leaves us… yeah, it's not a great feeling.

“Feels like a defeat, bit of a cliché, the obvious thing to say at this stage, but we have taken a point and we can't ignore that, but it feels like we should have a lot more.”

Carrick defends mentality, questions details

United’s defending came under the microscope again, with questions put to Carrick about whether the issues stem from mentality or coaching. He pushed back on any suggestion of a soft mindset.

“The mentality is there,” he insisted. “I think there's obviously things we need to get better at as a team. That's two strikes from distance, really, two really good strikes from their point of view, so sometimes they fly in the top corner, and more often than not, they probably don't, so there's a little bit of that.

“But yeah, obviously we can't ignore it. We need to concede less goals to give us a better chance of winning games, but we'll certainly look at that and keep improving.”

He pointed again to the quality of Maitland-Niles’ late leveller as the kind of moment that can distort the whole picture of a performance.

“I think that one strike from the edge, that goes in top the corner and changes the whole feeling, that few minutes,” he said. “When you look back, there'll be loads of little things that you can do a little bit differently, of course, but he's put it in the top corner from well outside the box, so sometimes it's one of those things.”

Rashford scare after standout display

On a night of mixed emotions, Rashford was one of United’s brightest sparks. He tormented the Everton back line, stretched the game, and repeatedly threatened without quite finding the decisive moment.

So when his number went up and Patrick Dorgu came on, eyebrows were raised.

Carrick’s explanation will not entirely ease supporters’ nerves.

“Yeah, he was feeling a bit of something,” he said when asked about the substitution.

The manager was quick to praise Rashford’s recent form and sharpness.

“Yeah, he's done very well. As I said during the week, he's done ever so well since he came back. I thought he looked really sharp again today and dangerous.

“That final little moment didn't quite drop for him, but nevertheless, I thought he created really good opportunities, and there was a big threat throughout the game.”

Carrick also highlighted the understanding between Rashford and Luke Shaw down the left as one of United’s main attacking weapons on the night.

“I think you're trying to build those partnerships and combinations throughout the team, really, and they've played together for quite some time now and have an understanding. And it's obviously up to us to build the understandings and combinations all the time.

“I thought we had that quite a lot through the middle of the pitch today at certain times, I thought we played some really good football through the middle of the pitch and obviously Bryan [Mbeumo] got his goal on the right, Marcus and Luke were particularly dangerous down that side.”

“We’ll be fine” – but points are slipping

Despite the late collapse and the questions over Rashford, Carrick pushed back on the idea that United’s season has started badly, leaning on the fine margins that turned three points into one.

“We haven't started the season that bad, to be honest,” he said. “Yeah, yeah, but it's not that bad, you know? We were a lot closer to coming away with three points today. That's football; there are moments that we can deal with a bit better, but we'll be fine.”

United do not have long to dwell. They open their Champions League campaign on Thursday at home to Sabah, carrying a mixture of regret, irritation, and now a fresh fitness worry over their most dangerous forward into a game they can scarcely afford to let slip in similar fashion.