Maguire admits Manchester United lack bravery after Carrick's side draw at Leeds

Harry Maguire has called on Manchester United to rediscover their bravery after a 1-1 draw at Elland Road offered under-pressure manager Michael Carrick some relief, though not the win his side needed. Bryan Mbeumo gave United a first-half lead before Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised early in the second period of a high-intensity encounter.

Carrick set his side up without a recognised centre-forward, deploying a midfield three of Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans that successfully stifled Leeds in a more disciplined defensive display than United have produced in recent weeks.

“We worked on it this week,” Maguire said of the formation change. “We wanted to match them up without the ball and go quite aggressive. We knew we could get a lot of joy in the middle of the pitch with them only playing two in there.”

Despite the improved structure, Maguire was candid about a persistent failing. “That’s probably the area of the game where we could have done more. We could have been a bit braver with the ball and taken the ball under pressure,” he said. “We’re in a circumstance where we are not as brave as we should be, and we have to get that back because to win games for Manchester United we have to have that bravery and composure.”

The result arrives just days after United’s Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid and gives Carrick a measure of breathing room. Lisandro Martínez started despite the fallout from his reported outburst at transfer chief Jason Wilcox — which later prompted a public apology — before being withdrawn at half-time with a knock.

Carrick was measured in his assessment. “Not getting too carried away because we didn’t win the game. It felt like a fresh start… the boys are desperate to do well,” he said, with United now facing Como in Europe on Wednesday.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke was left frustrated, believing his side should have pushed on after levelling. “We should have kept up the dominance, too many strikes went over the crossbar but it was overall a solid performance. We should have won the game but we move on,” he said. Leeds sit seventh in the standings.