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Michael Carrick criticises key decision after explaining ‘bitter’ feeling about Man Utd draw with Chelsea

Michael Carrick says he was “disappointed” that Manchester United could not hold on to their lead against Chelsea despite being the side with considerably fewer shots.

United came away from Stamford Bridge with a point after a tough game against Chelsea. The hosts had 23 shots in comparison to United’s three. However, it was the Red Devils who took the lead when Jadon Sancho capitalised on a mistake from Jorginho.

Sancho raced through one on one and slotted to the side of Edouard Mendy. However, United’s lead lasted for 19 minutes until Jorginho himself restored parity from the penalty spot.

Given their dominance of the share of the chances, it would likely be Chelsea to feel most aggrieved at not taking the full share of the points.

But United caretaker manager Carrick aired his views after the game on why he felt his side would be leaving London with a “bitter” feeling.

He told Sky Sports (via the BBC): “Disappointed actually. When you are in front in a game like this to have it taken away is disappointing.

“I’m proud of the players and the group all week. In a difficult situation we tried to make the best of it. But there is that little bitter feeling.

“We came to win the game. A little disappointed, I can’t lie.

“I don’t think it was a penalty at all. They have had a lot of shots, David [De Gea] had two saves which we knew before the game he would have to make one or two. Other than that I have felt quite comfortable in the game.

“Of course we want to be better. I am not getting carried away but I thought we defended well. I cannot fault the boys one bit.

“To come away disappointed and to feel like you have left something out there is a positive.”

Carrick, in a separate interview with BBC Sport, denied that proposed interim manager Ralf Rangnick had any influence on his team selection.

Carrick made the call to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of the starting lineup, which he explained before the game, for example.

In the end, his selections earned United a point that puts them eighth in the Premier League table.

De Gea discusses draw after Michael Carrick comments

Someone who shared a similar opinion to Carrick, while acknowledging the result as a good one, was David De Gea.

The goalkeeper kept United in it in the first half, but thinks the whole team should have been hoping to win. Even so, he would take the point.

He told Sky: “We already improved against Villareal, we won, qualified and now we played a very good team away from home. The effort of the team was very good.

“They had the best chances. For me it is not enough, a draw. We are in a tough moment. I am proud of the effort of the team.

“On the pitch, in the goal, I was feeling danger for nearly the whole game. We defended well, they missed big chances and the one they give us a chance we score.

“It is not enough to draw but at the moment it is a big point.

“The last games before we were conceding three or four goals. We are improving. This is just two games.

“At least now we are defending well. We are fighting for every ball. We are a team.”

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