‘Like a fresh start’: Michael Carrick relieved by Manchester United’s draw at Leeds

After a week in which Michael Carrick had “the headphones on” to quieten the noise, Manchester United’s head coach claimed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Leeds “felt like a fresh start” and insisted that the season can still be a good one.

Carrick’s team have seven points from seven Premier League games and have won only once in the competition, against Ipswich in August. Sunday’s draw followed the previous weekend’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

Yet after a week in which United lost 2-0 at Atlético Madrid, after which Lisandro Martínez criticised the recruitment of the director of football, Jason Wilcox, Carrick was relieved at the point against Daniel Farke’s team.

“[It’s been] quite quiet inside [the club] – the headphones have been on this week. It felt like a bit of a fresh start today – where we’re at and accepting it and doing something about it,” said the manager. “That didn’t surprise me today. We’re not getting too carried away because we haven’t won the game, but if you keep doing the right things for the right reasons then you get what you deserve in the end.”

“It definitely shows that the boys are desperate to do well for each other as much as anything else and how much they appreciate playing for this club, because there was a real purpose to the group over the last couple of days and they took it on the pitch. There was an edge to the game, an intensity. I spoke to the boys this morning about the history and what it means to the supporters, the club, to us coming over here into the territory.”

Carrick admitted that United’s league position is disappointing but believes the campaign can still be rescued. “If we keep doing the right things, we can still have a really good season. We’re not accepting it as everything’s great by any stretch, so I’m realistic with that. But sometimes you do struggle,.

“We’ve got to find a way through it. We have to be stable enough to keep doing the right things and we’re more than capable of winning matches. I understand the situation doesn’t look too good if you look at it from a certain way, but I have no doubts that we can go on a good run. I’m encouraged by a lot of things.”

Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s strike after the break, leaving Farke disappointed not to take all three points.

“We took it as a compliment that we have done many things right over the last month that we were seen as favourites against Manchester United,” said the Leeds manager. “But we have earned this. We wanted to prove the comments right. We were the dominant side, but we couldn’t capitalise as we lacked quality in and around the box. It is still difficult in this league to win points. You have to be clinical and be very, very effective, but we have to keep going.”