Michael Carrick has highlighted a “great trait” that helped Manchester United earn a draw against West Ham.
Manchester United dramatically drew 1 – 1 with West Ham in the Premier League as the Red Devils dropped points for the first time under Michael Carrick.
The first half was a cagey affair with both sides struggling to create many high-quality opportunities. The best chance of the half fell to Luke Shaw after a well-worked set-piece, but his shot was cleared off the line by ex-red Aaron Wan Bissaka.
The home side dealt United a big blow five minutes into the second half after Tomáš Souček popped up in the box at the near post with a deft touch through Senne Lammens legs to take the lead.
The Red Devils newfound resilience under Carrick came to the fore once again after Bryan Mbeumo whipped the ball in for substitute Benjamin Sesko, who, with a clever finish, snatched a point for United to take home to Manchester.
Carrick proud of his side
It is safe to say this was a difficult match for all the players against West Ham, with the side struggling a lot more compared to recent times.
However, it was a real test of character that, yet again, when it seemed like the game was slipping away, the team dug in and managed to rescue a point to keep the side unbeaten in five games.
When speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game, Carrick accepted that the side struggled today but was proud of the fight and determination they showed.
He said: “It was a tough game, we expected that really. I don’t think we were at our best in terms of sharpness and the attacking side of the game. So sometimes you have to make the most of what the night throws at you.
“Credit to the boys for coming back again, it is a great trait to have in the team. There are positives to take from it; you can’t win every game, and we certainly didn’t want to come away from here without a point.”
Break comes at a right time.
After a period of only playing one game a week, today was United’s second game in four days, and today it showed how leggy the players were.
In the last four games before today, the Red Devils dazzled with quick, dynamic, and aggressive attacks, featuring intricate passing plays. However, today the players looked off the pace.
Read more: Player Ratings: West Ham 1-1 Manchester United (Premier League)
West Ham set up with a very compact mid-block that stifled United at times, but overall, the passing was laboured at times, with the ball often landing back to defence to recycle. The lack of intent showed with only four shots on target.
The Red Devils now have a 13-day break until they take on Everton, which will no doubt be another tricky encounter. But the team now have a fortnight to recover their energy and more time on the training ground for Carrick to prepare for the fixture.
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