Michael Carrick on the brink as Man Utd in relegation zone regardless of dramatic comeback
Michael Carrick’s job as Manchester United manager is on the brink despite another dramatic late comeback rescuing a point against Aston Villa
Michael Carrick’s time as Manchester United boss is surely up(Image: Getty Images)
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United job is on the brink as he looks set for the sack during the international break after the club lie in the relegation zone despite a dramatic 4-4 comeback draw against Aston Villa.
More shocking defending saw United ship four goals and leave the side in the relegation zone with two weeks until they can attempt to find their first domestic win since the second game of the season.
The final game before the international break felt like a make-or-break one for Carrick, regardless of the sensational 3-2 comeback win against Roma in the week. And late Patrick Dorgu heroics saved a sensational draw at the death as United struck twice in injury time. But the bigger picture is certainly that a draw was not good enough before kick-off.
Manchester United are in the relegation zone(Image: Getty Images)
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It was another disastrous start, as just like Roma in midweek, United found themselves 2-0 down, but this time it was even quicker as Alysson and Nicolas Jackson both found the net inside four minutes.
Villa’s lightning quick start was the earliest that United have ever gone 2-0 down in a Premier League game before. It was nothing short of embarrassing as the already furious home fans, who staged more protests again against the Glazers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, turned on the players, chanting ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’.
Alysson’s strike was worryingly similar to Roma’s opener with the Brazilian in too much room on the outside of Diogo Dalot. His powerful low shot was then not dealt with by Senne Lammens, as it went in through his legs.
United fans protested against the club ownership again(Image: Getty Images)
The Stretford End took aim at the Glazers and Ratcliffe again(Image: Getty Images)
While Jackson was first to pounce on another moment Lammens would like to forget as he parried Alysson’s effort straight into the six-yard box where Jackson was lurking, bringing out the boos and damning words from the United fans.
And also like Roma, United only started playing at two goals down as Bruno Fernandes netted another crucial penalty to bring Old Trafford back to life on 16 minutes after Matheus Cunha was felled – but this time he didn’t need a retake.
It kickstarted the Red Devils and got the fans back on side as the home side asked all the questions, seeing Cunha and Amad both force Zion Suzuki into full-stretch saves to deny an equaliser.
But the pressure eventually told as former Villa man Youri Tielemans scored his first goal for United, and his first since the Europa League final win for the Villans.
United’s defending was dreadful(Image: Getty Images)
Amad played Noussair Mazraoui into space for the full-back to cut the ball back to the edge of the box where the Belgian arrived and fired through Suzuki in the 44th minute.
The half-time whistle brought a completely different reaction from the Stretford End than they gave the players 40 minutes earlier, with the fans roaring Carrick and his side into the tunnel, dreaming of another stunning comeback.
But those hopes were virtually extinguished just two minutes into the second half as Dalot’s poor tackle brought down Alysson in the box and allowed John McGinn to restore the lead.
And five minutes later, United’s hard work in rescuing the game in the first half evaporated because of more tragically bad defending. The circus that is United’s backline put on another comical show.
Leon Goretzka’s goal killed the contest(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Lammens had to make a good reaction save to push Leny Yoro’s header onto the bar after the Frenchman, under no pressure, inexplicably headed a free-kick towards his own goal. The ball bounced back off the bar and fell to Leon Goretzka to put in the rebound from point blank range.
United showed no sign of coming from behind again until Joshua Zirkzee turned in Patrick Dorgu’s cross in injury time, setting up a grandstand finish.
A twist that no one saw coming rescued a point at the death as Dorgu headed in from a corner in the last minute of added time. Unai Emery furiously stormed off down the tunnel as United somehow rescued a point. But ultimately, a late comeback can’t prove a sufficient block to build upon with just three wins all season so far.
Whoever is in charge when club football returns will have to take the team to Anfield, where Liverpool will be eagerly waiting to have a go at this broken United side.
