Michael Carrick left fuming after Man Utd concede 96th-minute equaliser against Everton

Michael Carrick left fuming after Man Utd concede 96th-minute equaliser against Everton There are footballing moments that leave you speechless, and the sixth minute of stoppage time at Hill Dickinson Stadium was one of them. Manchester United were leading 2-1, everyone was thinking about three points, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles burst into the penalty area and headed home, sending the home crowd into raptures. The ball was in the net, the score was 2-2. Michael Carrick stood frozen on the touchline, arms crossed, his face clenched as if he had been punched in the stomach. Carrick's side had twice taken the lead in a Premier League match at Goodison, or rather Hill Dickinson Stadium. The second time came in the 88th minute, when substitute striker Benjamin Sesko scored to put United on the verge of victory. But Maitland-Niles's stoppage-time equaliser in the 96th minute ruined everything. The result dropped Manchester United to 11th in the Premier League table with one win, one draw and one defeat from their opening three matches. For a club with big ambitions, having two points stolen away on the road is a bitter pill to swallow. Speaking after the match, Michael Carrick did not hide his disappointment. He said: "We're bitterly disappointed. To be up in the position we were in the game twice so close to the end and all the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages, to come away like that is not a great feeling. It feels like a defeat which is the obvious thing to say at this stage. We have taken a point, we can't ignore that but it feels like we should have had a lot more." Carrick's words accurately reflected the state of affairs. Manchester United started proactively, organised high pressing and created many dangerous situations. However, their defence still showed worrying gaps. Everton did not attack furiously but knew how to punish every small mistake. Allowing the hosts to equalise right at the end of stoppage time suggests United's psychological and concentration issues in decisive moments have not been fully resolved. Nevertheless, Carrick defended his team's overall performance at the start of the season. He rejected suggestions that United had made a poor opening and remained confident about their progression. "We haven't started the season that bad, to be honest," Carrick added. "It's not that bad. We were that close to coming away with three points today. That's football. There are little moments we could deal with better but we'll be fine." Carrick's optimism is grounded, because Manchester United created many chances and showed character in taking the lead twice. However, top-level football is not judged solely by the number of chances, but by the ability to close out matches. Claiming only one point against Everton, a team not rated as highly as Manchester United, shows the Old Trafford side still have plenty of work to do if they want to compete at the top. One of the reasons United fans find this result hard to accept is that their team dropped points in a situation that could have been defended better. In the 96th minute, instead of maintaining compact shape and shutting down the central corridor, the red defenders pushed too high and allowed Maitland-Niles space to attack the ball. This is not the first time Manchester United have dropped points in the final moments under Carrick, and that recurring theme is becoming a real nightmare. On the other side, Everton will surely consider this draw a moral victory. The hosts fought until the last breath and were rewarded with a valuable equaliser. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the unexpected hero, proved his worth with positional awareness and perfectly timed runs. Hill Dickinson Stadium became the scene of Everton's never-say-die spirit, and that is perhaps what Carrick needs to teach his players. Manchester United have little time to dwell on regret. On Thursday, they begin their Champions League campaign at home against Sabah FK at Old Trafford. This is a chance for Carrick's men to temporarily forget the domestic disappointment and aim for a convincing victory over a side expected to be weaker. However, European football always holds surprises, and if United continue to make mistakes in the final minutes, they could pay a heavy price. The following weekend, Manchester United face Manchester City in the Manchester derby. It is their toughest test of the season so far. Manchester City are usually rated higher in terms of squad quality, but derbies have their own rules. Carrick needs to heal his players psychologically, strengthen the defence and maximise the team's pressing efficiency. Otherwise, the derby could turn into a disaster. The heavy fixture list is posing a significant squad-rotation challenge. Benjamin Sesko scored after coming off the bench, a positive signal, but Carrick will need all his players fit and physically ready. Consecutive matches require high concentration and squad depth. Manchester United have a young, energetic group, but a lack of experience in managing games remains a crucial weakness. Looking back at the Everton match, United controlled the majority of the game. They passed more, shot more and created more clear-cut chances. But football is not a sport where the team with more possession always wins. The team that takes its key moments best is the one that earns the result. Everton needed only half of the chances they created in the second half to score the late equaliser, and they did. After the match, Manchester United players left the pitch with heavy faces. Some hung their heads in despair, others covered their faces, unable to believe what had just happened. The red dressing room was filled with gloom. Carrick walked into the press conference with his eyes still showing disbelief. He tried to remain calm and stressed that the team were on the right track, but he knew full well that a good performance without results is worthless. English media quickly criticised Manchester United's defending in stoppage time. Pundits suggested United lack a real leader at the back, someone who can read situations and command team-mates to drop deeper when necessary. Carrick may bring calmness and tactical intelligence from the bench, but the team still need a commanding centre-back. This question will likely occupy Carrick's mind in the coming weeks. However, the season is still long. Three matches are not conclusive, but they are enough to point out the issues that need to be fixed immediately. Manchester United need to improve their clean-sheet record, strengthen their late-game solidity and learn to cope with pressure when opponents push forward. Top-level football is unforgiving, and if they fail to learn from this draw, Carrick and his players could face more bitter consequences. Sabah FK are not an overly strong opponent, but the Champions League has its own traps. United need a convincing win to restore confidence and build momentum before facing Manchester City. Carrick can rotate some positions, giving opportunities to bench players such as Sesko, to save energy for the key players in the derby. Balancing short-term and long-term goals will be key to overcoming this difficult period. In football, a single moment can change a whole match, even a whole season. Manchester United have just experienced such a terrible moment. But Carrick and his players have no right to collapse. They must stand up, wipe away the regret and look forward. Wins in the upcoming matches will be the best antidote to this pain. Football always gives chances to those who can overcome adversity, and Manchester United must seize that. The Old Trafford stands will be waiting for them on Thursday. The red supporters may not be happy with the Everton result, but they will still stand behind the team. The strength of a big club lies not in never falling, but in rising after every setback. Manchester United are now standing at a crossroads and have the chance to prove exactly that. Source: GOAL.com