Carrick defends United after Fulham draw highlights midfield and fitness concerns

Key points

• United drew 1-1 with Fulham, with Cunha scoring in the 89th minute to cancel out Martinez's own goal in the 63rd minute.
• United are 12th in the Premier League with five points from five games, 10 points behind Manchester City, marking their joint-worst start to a season.
• Gary Neville criticized United's first 15 minutes as the worst he has seen, while Carrick defended his players' character and late-game reaction.
• Fans booed Carrick for substituting Kobbie Mainoo with 11 minutes remaining, reflecting growing frustration among supporters.
• Injuries to Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt, along with Carlos Baleba's delayed debut, have impacted United's squad depth and midfield control.

Background

United's struggles follow a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, where they surrendered a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford, their first home loss after leading by two in 50 years. Prior to that, they drew 1-1 with Everton and 1-1 with PSG, indicating inconsistent form. The current season's poor start contrasts with their previous campaign's success in returning to the Champions League.

How outlets are covering it

BBC Sport and Sky Sports focus on Carrick's defense of his players and the late equalizer, with Carrick emphasizing the team's resilience. Sky Sports highlights Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa's claims of referee bias, which he later softened. The Guardian offers a more critical view, questioning the club's 'window-by-window' rebuild strategy and pointing out United's lack of fitness and midfield control, noting that rivals like Manchester City and Arsenal invested significantly more in midfielders. The Guardian also criticizes the retention of Joshua Zirkzee, who has scored only five league goals in two years, as a sign of poor rebuilding decisions. ESPN's source was inaccessible, so no perspective could be extracted.

Why it matters

United's poor start threatens their ambitions for the season and raises questions about Carrick's tactical approach and the club's long-term strategy. The fanbase's growing frustration, compounded by ticketing issues and a planned £2bn stadium, could impact the club's stability. The injury crisis and delayed debut of key signings like Baleba highlight the risks of a fragmented transfer strategy. If United cannot improve their midfield and fitness levels, they risk falling further behind top teams and failing to meet expectations set by their previous Champions League return.

What to watch

United will face an international break, providing time to address fitness and tactical issues. Carlos Baleba is expected to make his debut after the break, potentially improving midfield control. The club will release full-year financial results on Wednesday, revealing the extent of their debt. Planning permission for the new stadium and Old Trafford masterplan is expected in late 2027 or early 2028. Carrick will need to adjust his squad and tactics to address the lack of energy and control in midfield, while managing fan expectations and potential pressure from poor results.