Carrick after Chelsea defeat: The game got away from us

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick admitted that Lisandro Martínez's red card had a massive impact on the match, leaving the Red Devils unable to fight their way back. The manager expressed frustration over how his side conceded the opening goal, but felt his players performed well in the first half and deserved to be in front.

"In the first half, we were very much in the game. I felt we should have been ahead. In the end, though, the match got away from us. The first goal we conceded was poor from our perspective, and after that, we never managed to recapture the way we played before the break," said Carrick.

The manager highlighted Martínez's dismissal as a decisive turning point: "It has a huge bearing on the game. A massive moment. I think that's pretty obvious," he stated. Carrick also addressed Bryan Mbeumo striking the crossbar, a chance that could have dragged Manchester United back into contention.

"That probably summed it all up. It was a great strike from Bryan at that moment. It would have put us right back in the contest. You believe in your players to score and create chances. Bryan was one of the players who epitomised how the game unfolded," the manager explained.

Despite the defeat, Carrick took positives from his team's first-half display, specifically praising their discipline, individual execution, and overall quality. "I was pleased with the team in the first half, especially the individual performances. The discipline, the carrying out of their roles, and the quality of football were all there," the manager added.