Carrick wants Man Utd players to become ‘streetwise’ to end poor run
Manchester United coach Michael Carrick has urged the players to be ‘streetwise’ and stubborn to end their poor start to the 2026-27 Premier League season.
The Red Devils played out a disappointing draw against Tottenham at Old Trafford despite enjoying a numerical advantage after Rodrigo Bentacur was sent off in the 78th minute.
Manchester United have taken just six points from their opening six Premier League games, their lowest haul at this stage of a league campaign for 30 years.
Carrick was disappointed after the team failed to take advantage of the numerical advantage.
He said: “I’m not happy with the amount of points that we’ve had so far, for sure. There’s no hiding from that.
“I think it could have been different but for a couple of little things here and there, but the reality is the reality, we’ve got to accept it. We need to put things in a positive direction quite quickly.
“We’re more than capable of doing that. We’ve just got to be a little bit more streetwise in moments, a little bit more stubborn and a little bit more stronger and see out certain things.”
The Red Devils also let the lead slip twice when they drew 2-2 away to Everton and were dumped out of the League Cup by Brighton last month despite taking an early 2-0 advantage.
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Carrick continued: “It’s different type of goals but it’s definitely something that, whether 10 men or not 10 men, if we’re leading the game, we’ve got to see games out.
“Whether that’s taking a ball, controlling the game a little bit more, looking after the ball better in their half and around their box and pinning them in a little bit.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham coach, Roberto De Zerbi, was delighted with his team’s battling performance.
He said: “In that moment with 10 players maybe we played with more courage, we played with more energy and we changed again the game.
“For a long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character and I want, now I am the coach, I want to see this character every game.”
Tottenham are winless in their first six games of the season, drawing three and losing three to occupy the 18th position.
Manchester United have six points from six matches, winning one, drawing three and losing two.
The Red Devils will be back in action against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday while Tottenham will face Coventry City next Monday.
