Manchester United

Sophie Trifonoff
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick spoke to the media to preview Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Brighton at Old Trafford (20:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On squad rotation for Wednesday night's match, he said: "It's important for us to win football matches, and it's important that we manage the squad as well and keep everyone up to speed, keep everyone ready, keep everyone part of it. But we're certainly going into Wednesday trying to win the game."

• On how his side will move on from Sunday's derby loss, Carrick said: "We've still got to look at it for ourselves, and we've got to win games. We have done, we've won a lot of games, and we need to continue to do that. I understand it's a new season, it's a fresh season, and the points tally right now is not what we want it to be. I'm not hiding from that, but it's more of winning games, getting that feeling, getting the habit. It's easier said than done, of course it is, but we're capable of it."

• On when new signing Carlos Baleba will be fit, he said: "He'll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so, so that means after internationals, he should be in good shape."

• On what he will add to the team, Carrick said: "He came being injured and then he's desperate to get out there and be part of the group and training fully with the boys. I've said before, obviously, he's a quality player, that's why we brought him, and he balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well."

• On the importance of winning trophies this season, he said: "Trophies is the beauty and the feeling of winning, it's what we're in football for, what we're in sport for, and certainly what I'm at this club for is to try and win."

• He added: "It's not straightforward, and you can't decide you want to win and you go and win. Of course not. But it's important, and I think trophies and achieving things and giving supporters that feeling of the emotion of that is important, definitely."

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed Manchester United's business in the summer transfer window.

The Observer's Rory Smith said it is harsh to say that their summer transfer window was underwhelming, adding that the signings they made weren't "unsensible".

"We have criticised them for years for following fads, thinking short term or doing things reactively," Smith said. "They didn't get involved in a ridiculously inflated market. They picked players who we probably all thought [would work]. "

When challenged on this by presenter Mark Chapman, Smith added: "They have clearly got an issue when they are expected to dominate the game. That is exacerbated when you're against a team with 10 men [Manchester City] who have to sit in and wait for their chances."

How do you feel about the midfield changes? Tell us here

Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast, co-hosts Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath unpicked United's derby defeat.

Drinkwater said: "It was a game that, once again, showed Manchester United's lack of character, lack of experience and lack of ability to rise to an occasion when the impetus is on them. This is what worries me - whenever this United team are expected to do something they fall flat on their face.

"These players are great when they're acting on instinct. When the game is chaos this team, and certain individuals in this team, grow into that because they don't have to think too much.

"But when they're given time to think - as Manchester City gave them they went down to 10 men and quite rightly sat a bit deeper and let Manchester United play with the ball - the United players had too much time on the ball.

"Quite simply, when they have too much time to think about it, they make the wrong decisions or don't make any decisions. The creativity was astoundingly poor."

Listen to latest edition of The Devils' Advocate on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking in his news conference after Sunday's game, new Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca accepted Phil Foden's red card made the game more difficult for his side.

However, he also highlighted why he knew it would also be a problem for Manchester United.

"They are a team that loves transitions and space in behind," he said.

"With 10 players, we just dropped and waited for them, so we didn't concede any transitions and didn't concede any space in behind. That is why the game became more difficult for us and for them."

United have been more effective as a counter-attacking team since Jose Mourinho arrived at the club over a decade ago.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to change it, but never quite got there. The same, to an extent, is true of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, both of whom came to United after achieving success in a domestic league where their side dominated the opposition.

As a player, Michael Carrick liked to get on the ball and not give it away. It is fair to assume that is what he wants from his players.

Keeping the ball is one thing. Having the vision and skill to keep possession and create chances against opponents quite prepared to sit in, deny space and keep their shape is another.

United's summer recruitment strategy was based around their midfield. Yet, with Youri Tielemans yet to find top form, Carlos Baleba still to make his debut and Andrey Santos dropped to the bench after the opening game at Hull City - and not used at all against City - the overall impact of their £155m summer spend has been limited.

At the same time, with Luke Shaw's 41-game run of consecutive Premier League starts coming to an end, there was no fresh back-up at left-back, as most observers expected.

And the introduction of Joshua Zirkzee – someone who had been available for transfer all summer – for Marcus Rashford seven minutes from time as one of only two United substitutes, gave a strong indication the overall depth in Carrick's squad is not at the level required.

Read more on the questions for Man Utd here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

In the Manchester derby there were two huge calls and, again, VAR somehow managed to get both wrong. Well, the first was at the very least morally wrong as opposed to totally wrong by the letter of the law.

Bruno Fernandes sneakily kicked Phil Foden while the Manchester City man was defenceless on the ground. That should have been a clear yellow card or maybe a red, but the officials back at Stockley Park either ignored it or didn't see it. Out of anger, Foden actioned his knee towards Fernandes' stomach, without catching him in any meaningful way.

The referee saw this as violent conduct after the Manchester United player writhed around in what looked suspiciously like feigned agony. This was precisely the sort of behaviour the new rules are trying to stop. Foden had the common decency not to do this when he was kicked but paid the price for his honesty.

A booking for both would have sufficed, but Fernandes was exonerated while Foden exited. Foden was foolish but not violent and the VAR should have helped the referee.

Fortunately, the football gods were watching over the officials again and presented City with Erling Haaland's winning goal to recalibrate the moral imbalance, but once again VAR managed to get it wrong, as has now been admitted.

Spotting that Haaland was onside was brilliant officiating. I thought he was well offside even after three or four viewings, so well done on that call, lads.

Unfortunately, they managed to miss the glaringly obvious offside in the same move when Enzo Fernandez clearly put Lisandro Martinez off his defending duties. This was a stunning oversight in such a huge moment. No player or former player would fail to see that this was a clear infringement.

For those of us who habitually defend VAR, it was a dark weekend even if they do still get many more right over a season than they get wrong.

As for fairness, happily it won through in the end. United fans may grumble, but going down to 10 men galvanised City.

Bruno's theatricals didn't win the game, they contributed to them losing the derby.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

A new episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast is available to download and listen to on BBC Sounds.

Co-hosts Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath reflect on Manchester United's derby defeat by Manchester City and ponder how Michael Carrick's side can bounce back after such a disappointing afternoon.

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bruno Fernandes won the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards last season for an outstanding campaign when he scored nine goals and claimed a Premier League record 22 assists.

So far this season, he has scored three times and has one assist. The goals record is good, but the assists are not. More importantly, his overall impact seems to have dipped.

Some observers felt he looked tired against Manchester City, which only heightened questions around his involvement against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK in the Champions League.

Despite their lowly ranking, it was understandable why Michael Carrick would take no chances with his team selection as United returned to Europe's elite competition after a two-year absence.

However, with his side three goals up at the break and knowing there was a three-day turnaround to the City game, it was puzzling why Carrick elected to leave his skipper on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as he chose to use all five substitutes.

Now into the final year of his contract, which United have the option to extend to the summer of 2028, a continued over-reliance on Fernandes is a concern.

Read more on the questions for Carrick here

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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick should play forward Benjamin Sesko as his side are offering "no danger" through the middle, says former Premier League striker Charlie Austin.

Matheus Cunha started in the striker position with Bruno Fernandes behind him and Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford on the wings on Sunday. However, his side were largely blunt in the 1-0 derby defeat by rivals Manchester City, despite playing against 10 men for almost 70 minutes, and register a lower xG (expected goals) than their opponents.

Sesko was eventually introduced midway through the second half but could not turn the tie around.

"I don't think we should allow VAR and those moments to overshadow the fact that Manchester United were poor," Austin told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They don't play with a number nine. They had 10 versus 11 and didn't have a number nine. Cunha is not a nine, he is a 10 or he plays wide. He is never occupying the two centre backs or he drops in.

"There is no danger going forward for me for Manchester United through the middle.

"Down the middle, even if you don't like Sesko you are going to have to suck it up and play him. Then it's two of either Mbuemo, Cunha or Rashford, because I don't think you can play all three as none of them are number nines."

Asked whether Carrick is showing he does not trust Sesko, The Telegraph's Luke Edwards said: "There is a body of evidence building up that he doesn't fancy him from the start.

"They had one shot on target until midway through the second half and they were playing against 10 men. City's control of that game with 10 men should embarrass United. They weren't hurting them and they were also being passed through."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

To be clear, Manchester United's fans have - to a greater or lesser degree - protested against the owners since the Glazer family landed £600m-worth of debt on to a previously debt-free club with their leveraged buy-out in 2005.

In their most recent accounts to 31 March, United had an overall debt of £1.3bn, including outstanding transfer fees.

Since then they have refinanced $425m (£314m) worth of bonds at a higher interest rate than they had been previously. They also took an additional $125m (£92.4m) but are yet to explain what the additional funds will be used for.

The club's current financial position will be revealed on 23 September when it publishes its full year accounts to 30 June 2026.

Ratcliffe's involvement promised to change the situation. Yet many fans argue that, if anything, things have got worse.

Ill feeling has spilled over since United launched a ticket-touting investigation in the summer.

Although they have admitted to underestimating the number of fans who shared their account details and toned down some of the threats around season ticket confiscation if supporters failed to respond as requested, United officials defended the investigation.

Last week, they revealed 685 fan accounts had been banned, with a further 464 either sanctioned or warned.

However, United added that "468 cases were resolved after supporters responded with the relevant information. No further action was taken, as the information provided satisfactorily explained the activity identified".

Huge numbers with flares gathered outside the ground, heeding a call from the 1958 Group, before making their way through the Munich tunnel under the stadium.

It was noticeable many songs were sung in direct protest against Ratcliffe, as well as the Glazers.

"We wanted the Glazers out and that will never change," said Steve Compton of the the 1958 Group.

"Ratcliffe came in and gave us a glimmer, but his idea of putting Manchester back in Man Utd couldn't be any further from the truth.

There were boos from the home fans at the final whistle, although it was not entirely clear whether the reaction was triggered by their team's performance or the officials over the controversial offside call that confirmed Erling Haaland's second-half winner should stand.

Since Berrada spoke to staff, United have delivered their worst starts in three decades. Many United supporters feel an overall transfer spend of £148m this summer was not enough after Carrick's mid-season arrival led to an improvement that secured a third-place finish.

"I definitely appreciate the supporters," said Carrick.

"We want to try everything to make them happy. They're everything for this football club. I never take them for granted. I speak about that quite a lot, and it means a lot to me.

"I'm feeling for them today on the back of losing the game. We haven't got as many points as we would have liked at this point, for sure. There's no getting away from that."

Read more here

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The disputed Erling Haaland goal came after a first half laced with controversy, with Phil Foden shown a straight red for kicking out at midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester City midfielder Foden picked up the ball wide on the right-hand side in his own half and was closed down by Fernandes, who tripped him.

Foden then kicked out at the body of the Manchester United captain while on the ground and was shown a straight red card by the referee.

Replays showed that Fernandes kicked Foden in the back first, before the City man retaliated.

The incident was checked by the VAR, who confirmed the on-field decision; Fernandes was not shown a card.

Pundits were divided on whether Foden should have seen red and whether Fernandes was the man at fault.

Former United forward Wayne Rooney did not believe it was a red, saying "it was more of a flick or a gesture, than a kick out".

Ex-United defender Gary Neville said he was "surprised" Fernandes did not receive a booking for his role while former Old Trafford midfielder Roy Keane said the fault lay with the Portuguese.

"Foden gets up and reacts obviously, so he's sent off," he said. "Fernandes catches him and gives him a little kick. I guess it's classed as violent. But Fernandes is the one who is violent here - I don't think Foden should have a red card."

Dale Johnson, BBC Sport football issues correspondent, said: "The referee and VAR would have to deem it violent conduct rather than just petulance from Fernandes.

"The guidance changed some years ago to factor that in, so David Beckham's kick on Diego Simeone in the 1998 World Cup would not result in a sending off today.

"It looked to me like there was little to no contact from Fernandes, and if there was it was limited force and wasn't followed through.

"So Bruno's act would be seen as a yellow card offence, which the VAR obviously can't get involved in."

Watch ex-Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy and Rooney debate the sending off on Match of the Day below...

Watch Sunday's episode of Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Adrian: I just think United lack some real talent. It feels like we are getting left behind. This indifferent performance seems to be the norm nowadays. I think United need a summit at the very least to discuss the club in totality. I think Sir Alex Ferguson would be ideal to head up it up. City are now where United should be.

Ruso: Time's up for Carrick. At this rate United will not even finish in the top 10. Must stop playing Cunha as a striker. Sesko provides much more danger in the box than Cunha.

Mark: Not sure what is going on at United - proven striker who does not start games and an attacking left-sided player at left-back. While I think Carrick can turn things around, he needs to push to get proper cover at left-back if Amass is not ready and trust his only out-and-out striker to start. The only bright sparks seem to come from Lammens, Mainoo and Mbeumo. The less said about the never-ending list of mistakes by VAR, the better. VAR is not fit for purpose, in my opinion.

Simon: The awful decision to allow the goal to stand aside, this latest poor performance and loss showed the biggest United flaw - attitude. As soon as the red card was issued, I knew the game was going to be tougher. We didn't press and we didn't force mistakes. We had no hunger, no desire to show up our biggest rivals and no-one on the bench capable of changing the game. What has Manchester United come to when winning against Sabah is the highlight of the week?

Man City fans

David: A statement win for us. The battling spirit, control and resilience of the 10 who stayed on the pitch was awesome, but it was telling that we improved after Foden went off. Ridiculous reaction to the Fernandes kick. I won't be upset to see him go if the club decides he's had his chance. The contrast between his behaviour and the rest of the team was stark. That said, the officiating of that game was a joke - how Fernandes stayed on the pitch is beyond me and the goal was very marginal. But, a great step forward - in Enzo we trust!

Doug: City are still learning off each other and the new system, but they rode their luck and fought well. Probably a double red. Red for Fernandes for the bad tackle and kick, then Foden shouldn't retaliate. Pleased with the resilience and a team-bonding win.

Brian: What a result and how good does this feel for the team and fans? Derby matches are always competitive and this lived up to all expectations. City proved that this squad can only get better with each game. They have passion, belief, skill and determination. It was not easy and everyone played their part when going down to 10 men. I watched this in Majorca and it felt great to sing Blue Moon on a fabulous Sunday evening. City are very much back in business.

Sajid: If this was a Guardiola team then United would have won it. This Maresca team is more robust in defence and will not concede many goals. Gone are the days of fully fledged attacking and possession domination by City.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The curiosity about this incident is that the goal was initially disallowed for the wrong reason. Erling Haaland was flagged offside when he shouldn't have been.

But as it turned out, the goal should have been ruled out because Enzo Fernandez was offside.

There is one key part of the offside law which applies to Fernandez here. A player is offside if they are:

"Clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent."

Both parts of that clause must be met. It is possible for a player in an offside position to attempt to play a ball and not commit an offence – there must be impact on an opponent too.

As the ball came in, Fernandez threw himself to try to head it, with Lisandro Martinez directly behind him.

Video assistant referee Matt Donohue should ask himself if Fernandez's action would have influenced Martinez.

In other words: If Fernandez had not jumped for the attempted header, would Martinez have made a different decision over playing the ball?

If the ball had been out of reach for Fernandez, or for Martinez, then there is an argument to give the goal.

And also: There would have been no offside had Fernandez made no attempt to play the ball.

But he did. And as it went just a yard in front of Martinez too, it is very difficult to argue Fernandez did not commit an offside offence.

There is also an argument that the actions of Fernandez influence the positioning of goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

However, the goal was originally ruled out for offside against Haaland - which was incorrect. So that decision had to be overturned.

And then, the VAR should have sent referee Michael Oliver to the monitor for the subjective offence by Fernandez.

It would have created the odd situation where a disallowed goal was reviewed to remain ruled out - but this is what should have happened.

It was a clear offside offence by Fernandez and will go down as a VAR mistake.

Was the VAR too concerned with a possible touch by Fernandez?

If so, did the VAR forget that Fernandez was offside, and not consider the subjective offence? It seems to be the most logical explanation.

A similar thing happened in a game between Arsenal and Brentford in February 2023 when a goal by an offside Christian Norgaard was not disallowed.

Read more on the incident here

Match of the Day pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy find it "baffling" that Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby was not ruled out by VAR, but think Phil Foden's red card was the correct decision.

Read more: Refereeing body admits judgement error over Haaland derby winner

Borussia Dortmund have joined Manchester United in showing interest in Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, with the German club sending scouts to watch the 18-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

Juventus are not prepared to sell 26-year-old Pierre Kalulu in the January transfer window, with Manchester United and Liverpool both linked with a possible move for the France defender. (Manchester Evening News), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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