Manchester United fans turned on their own team after they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton, before Michael Carrick addressed wonderkid JJ Gabriel asking to leave the club
Manchester United fans turned on their own team after an embarrassing 3-2 defeat at home to Brighton dumped them out of the Carabao Cup and plunged the club into a fresh crisis.
For the first time in 50 years, the Red Devils threw away a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford and lost. Strikes from talented teen Shea Lacey and Mason Mount put them in control after 10 minutes, yet after Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back just before half-time, they went on to concede an equaliser to Pascal Gross and then the winning goal for the Seagulls by substitute Maxim De Cuyper.
Exiting the cup at the first hurdle for the second successive season – after last year’s humiliating defeat to Grimsby Town – caps off a nightmare few days for manager Michael Carrick. It follows the controversial derby defeat to Manchester City on Sunday and the shocking revelation on Tuesday that United’s brightest young hope, 15-year-old wonderkid JJ Gabriel, wants to quit the club. Carrick addressed booing fans, the dismal performance and Gabriel’s future after the clash – here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
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Fans turn on team with brutal chant
Michael Carrick branded United’s collapse against Brighton as “unacceptable” after his team were booed and jeered off the pitch.
As United’s flops trudged off the pitch, they were met with a chorus of angry boos, before some supporters in the Stretford End went as far as to mock their own team.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, there were chants of “what the f****** hell was that”. And Carrick showed he shared the fans’ fury as he gave a scathing post-match interview on Sky Sports.
The United boss raged: “We can’t accept that as a group. I take responsibility for it. The performance towards the end of the second half, that’s on me.”
Asked whether he shared and could understand the supporters’ frustration, Carrick continued: “Yeah of course, that’s pretty obvious! I totally understand the feelings of the supporters… We have to accept it. I totally accept it.
“It’s on me ultimately: as a team what we look like, how we play and what results you get. I take that. I’ll take the praise, I’ll take the criticism and the upset. I totally understand it for the way the game went. We have got to win games.”
Carrick speaks on JJ Gabriel’s future
Carrick emphasised that people must be considerate of JJ Gabriel’s age after the teen said he wanted to leave the club, leaving United officials stunned.
Speaking after the loss against Brighton, which Gabriel could have featured in if he hadn’t refused to be part of training for the game on Tuesday, Carrick urged caution.
He said: “We have to be a little bit careful on that one. He’s a 15-year-old boy. It’s more about the welfare, the care and the attention of JJ as a child really.
“He’s certainly a young man. The situation is what it is, but we have to be careful about the exposure and how much we jump on that.”
When pressed on whether he was part of the discussions surrounding Gabriel’s future, Carrick added: “As a club, for sure, we’re all involved in those conversations. I just think we’ve got to be very careful of that.”
JJ Gabriel’s transfer options emerge
Following his request to terminate his United deal, Gabriel has reportedly caught the attention of four major clubs.
He would be prevented from joining another Premier League club until the season’s end unless United agree to terminate his contract, but he could seek a move overseas, reports the Mirror.
While United have yet to grant his request, the teenage prodigy would have no shortage of potential destinations if he is allowed to leave as a free agent.
The Athletic reports Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are all monitoring the United prospect.
Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid are said to have watched Gabriel in action, with sources suggesting they were left impressed by his hat-trick against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League.
United retain the option to refuse or contest Gabriel’s departure request, though it remains uncertain whether he would be permitted to secure a move overseas.
Premier League regulations stipulate: “During your child’s registration period, their registration may only be cancelled if everyone agrees (the club, player and their parent/carer).”
The rules further state: “If the parties don’t agree, then any person involved can also ask the Premier League to provide a binding decision on a termination request by making a written application providing full reasons for the request.”