Carrick calls Man Utd's two-goal collapse against Brighton 'unacceptable' as pressure mounts

Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after squandering a two-goal lead against Brighton at Old Trafford, with manager Michael Carrick publicly accepting blame and calling the second-half performance “unacceptable”.

The result marked the first time in 50 years that United had lost a game at home after leading 2-0 in any competition. The final whistle was met with loud, angry boos from the Old Trafford crowd, leaving Carrick under mounting pressure.

“We can’t accept that as a group,” Carrick said after the match. “I take responsibility for it. The performance towards the end of the second half, that’s on me.”

Carrick was unequivocal in shouldering the blame, insisting the result and the manner of the collapse ultimately fell on him as manager. “It’s on me ultimately: as a team what we look like, how we play and what results you get. I take that. I’ll take the praise, I’ll take the criticism and the upset,” he said.

He also expressed understanding for the supporters’ reaction, describing their frustration as “pretty obvious” given how the game unfolded. His focus, he added, has already shifted to Sunday’s Premier League fixture. “We have to go back to winning football matches. We want to win and want to win quickly. The next game is Sunday. That’s all I’m thinking about right now.”

Separately, Carrick addressed reports that United wonderkid JJ Gabriel, 15, had informed the club of his desire to leave. The United manager urged caution over the level of public attention being directed at the teenager. “He’s a 15-year-old boy. It’s more about the welfare, the care and the attention of JJ as a child really,” Carrick said. “We have to be careful about the exposure and how much we jump on that.”