Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has stressed that he is to blame for the embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Cup exit
Brighton came from two goals down to beat United 3-2 at Old Trafford, dumping the hosts out of the competition at the first time of asking.
Shea Lacey broke the deadlock for United in the eighth minute with a sensational finish. The game was Lacey’s first start for United.
The Red Devils were in dreamland when Mason Mount doubled their advantage shortly after he drove home the rebound from a Marcus Rashford effort that had been blocked.
⚽️ Shea Lacey (8')
⚽️ Mason Mount (10')A strong start for Michael Carrick's Reds! 👊 pic.twitter.com/wSxdo53xt3
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 16, 2026
But Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back just before the break after some pitiful defending and goalkeeping from Ayden Heaven and Karl Darlow respectively. Pascal Gross equalised after being left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, affording him time to turn onto a clearance from halfway and send his shot beyond Darlow.
Maxim De Cuyper completed the comeback from Brighton in the 70th minute.
United exit the #CarabaoCup.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 16, 2026
Carrick spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live and expressed his disappointment with the result.
Carrick’s verdict
The legendary midfielder said, “It seems a long time ago now but the start of the game was fantastic. It was everything we hoped for, even more really, in some ways in Shea [Lacey] getting his goal.”
“The night’s gone in a different direction but I think for Shea for the moment in the academy and everyone who’s been connected with his journey, to have a moment like which he should be celebrating and enjoying a little bit more really to have that start of the game.”
“Then we let the game get away from us with the longer the game went.”
“We ended up with a pretty disappointing night. It’s obvious for me to say that. We accept that. We can’t be in a position like that and lose the game in that manner. I’ll understand the disappointments and frustrations.”
“I accept that. That’s on me. It’ll need to be better than that.”
Asked whether he addressed the glaring issues, Carrick answered, “We can’t change that. It’s done. We’ve got to keep evolving as a group. We have to keep learning and dealing with situations. Sometimes they come a bit easier than others. Tonight was a tough one. We didn’t find a way out of it.”
“That’s up to me and the staff to help the players and guide them through it. I think we all know that in the end tonight feels like a big disappointment.”
He added, “We’ve had small, little things that have gone against us in the last week or two and then it accumulates to feel that it’s a lot bigger. I think we have to be honest and say that. The late goal against Everton from outside the box. The [Manchester] City goal the other day.”
“It can all of a sudden roll into something a bit greater but I understand the disappointment because we shouldn’t finish the game in that manner with the position we were in and we have to be humble and take that.”
“We have to find the answers for Sunday.”
United are next in action when they go away to Fulham.
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
