Maguire explains Carrick's tactical shift as United drop points at Elland Road

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, extending their winless run to six games in all competitions despite leading at half-time through Bryan Mbeumo’s opener.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin levelled in the 51st minute, losing his marker Carlos Baleba from a corner to cancel out United’s advantage and leave interim manager Michael Carrick still searching for his first win in charge.

Centre-back Harry Maguire revealed that Carrick had deliberately altered United’s shape ahead of the match, deploying a system that shifted between a back five without the ball and a back four in possession.

“We worked on it this week,” Maguire told Sky Sports. “We wanted to match them up without the ball and go quite aggressive. It was a bit of a five without the ball and a bit of a four with the ball. Fluid in midfield. We knew we could get a lot of joy in the middle of the pitch with them only playing two in there.”

Despite the tactical preparation, Maguire acknowledged that United lacked the composure to fully capitalise. “That’s probably the area of the game where we could’ve done more. We could’ve been a bit braver with the ball and taken the ball under pressure. 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 Man United we have to have that bravery and composure.”

The United captain was keen to highlight the collective spirit on display at a ground where Leeds had been in strong form, while pinpointing the set-piece concession as the decisive moment that cost his side all three points.

“You can’t question the togetherness, the spirit, the fight. This is a tough place to come,” he said. “To concede a set-piece after half-time is disappointing. We had to dig in. We got a foothold at about 70 minutes and probably looked the more likely to go and win it, but a draw is probably fair.”

The result leaves United in a difficult run of form at a critical juncture, with Carrick’s tactical flexibility offering some encouragement even as the winless sequence stretches on.