Michael Carrick: ‘We can’t accept’ Man United showing in Carabao Cup exit, ‘I take responsibility’

MANCHESTER, England — Michael Carrick branded Manchester United’s capitulation as unacceptable, after watching his team lose 3-2 to Brighton in the Carabao Cup after leading 2-0.

United were dumped out despite goals from 19-year-old Shea Lacey and Mason Mount in the opening 10 minutes on Wednesday.

Fabian Hürzeler’s side battled back thanks to goals from Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper to win at Old Trafford for the fifth time in their last six visits.

“We can’t accept that as a group,” Carrick said.

“I take responsibility for it. The performance towards the end of the second half, that’s on me.

“We’ll all be better. We have to be better. We’re out of this competition and we have to go back to winning football matches. It doesn’t feel good at the moment. It doesn’t feel good.

“We want to win and want to win quickly. The next game is Sunday. That’s all I’m thinking about right now.”

United have now won just two of their six games in all competitions to start the season and sit 13th in the Premier League table with four points.

The players were booed off following the defeat to Brighton, but Carrick rejected the suggestion his position could already be under threat.

“I don’t feel under pressure,” he said.

“Either way, that doesn’t bother me one bit. It generally doesn’t bother me one bit.

“I understand what goes on outside and how the world works, but it doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is winning games and having a good feeling around the place.

“We’ve got to win football matches and we can do. I fully believe we will do. But obviously we’ve got to do it pretty quick and Sunday [against Fulham] is a starting point.”