Carrick is furious with ‘one of the worst decisions’ in Manchester United’s defeat to Leeds
Michael Carrick has launched a scathing attack on the officials after Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at Leeds, calling two key refereeing decisions in as many games “appalling” and insisting Lisandro Martinez’s red card was among the worst he has seen in his managerial career.
Noah Okafor’s first-half brace gave Leeds United a famous victory, their first league victory at Old Trafford in more than 23 years, and Casemiro pulled back a second-half consolation.
But the result was overshadowed by anger in Carrick’s post-match assessment, as he railed against referee Paul Tierney and VAR for a series of decisions he felt cost his team.
“We didn’t start the game well,” Carrick told Sky Sports. “Obviously we conceded when Leny Yoro was hit in the head by a forward and they scored the first goal.
“They didn’t decide to overturn that decision, it was a big moment in this game.
“But the second half, I thought the boys the way they went, they stayed positive and fought to get something out after the shocking, shocking decision to send off Martinez. Two games in a row we had similar decisions against us, but that was one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Carrick’s Red Card Fury
Martinez was sent off in the 56th minute after what the referee deemed to be a deliberate pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. VAR reviewed the decision and refused to intervene, leaving United to play half an hour with ten men. Carrick was in disbelief.
“You can elbow Leny Yoro with the first goal, the arm is obviously leaning, you can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and as he is out because of that, you are half stiff, you touch half of his hair that pulls the foam to come out,” he said.
“I don’t even know what it looks like, it doesn’t drag, it doesn’t drag, it doesn’t have violence.
Worst of all, he was sent to destroy it, a clear and obvious mistake.
United Heading Into Final Weeks
Despite the result ending Carrick’s unbeaten run since taking charge in January, the United manager was keen to look beyond the frustration, pointing to a strong second-half response as proof of what his side are capable of.
“The boys went to look for that,” he said. “Football, sometimes you don’t have good spells in games and other times you do, we know we can be better and do things better.
“Second half, we could have got something out of the game. I’m happy with the way we did that. We talked at halftime about getting the next goal and trying to win the game. Obviously it was very difficult when you’re the underdog.”
Asked if the international break had disrupted United’s rhythm, Carrick was brief. “It doesn’t make a difference, to be honest.
“This is one game, we will look at it and look to improve, we have another big, important game next week and at the end of the season.
“We’re in a really good position. It’s disappointing tonight, we didn’t want to lose and we didn’t want the referee’s decisions to be so bad for us, but we’re moving on. We have a great end to the season and there’s a lot to be positive about.”
United remain third in the Premier League and in the hunt for the Champions League, but they cannot continue to rely on points dropped by their rivals.
