Michael Carrick left ‘frustrated’ by Manchester United’s lack of ‘sharpness or spark’ in West Ham draw – ‘We were a bit disappointing’
Benjamin Sesko rescued a draw for Manchester United away to West Ham on Tuesday with a sublime stoppage-time equaliser. It extended Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run as interim manager to five games but, after winning the previous four, he admitted to TNT Sports being “frustrated” that his side were “a bit disappointing” and lacked “sharpness or spark” in attack at the London Stadium.
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick was left “a little bit frustrated” by his side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, despite grabbing a late equaliser.
Carrick came into the game with a perfect record of four wins from four since succeeding the sacked Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford last month.
But a revitalised West Ham side took the lead through Tomas Soucek early in the second half and looked set for a vital victory for their survival bid until substitute Benjamin Sesko caressed home a sublime finish to level the scores in the 96th minute.
It marked the first time Carrick had failed to grab all three points in his short tenure, and he admitted to TNT Sports that he had some regrets about the performance.
“We were OK. I think we were a bit disappointing. We definitely weren’t at our best,” Carrick said.
“It’s the times when you’re not totally at your best when you can find a way, keep a clean sheet and move on. So we’re a little bit frustrated with that.
“We’ve had five games now, and we’ve been at a really good level. It’s a tough place to come, and they made it difficult.
“We just didn’t quite have that sharpness or spark to find the answers. In the end, big credit to the boys for the spirit again and the late goal when we needed it. It’s a great quality to have. We’ll take the point and move on.”
The result leaves United fourth in the Premier League standings, one point ahead of Chelsea in fifth.
For West Ham, Sesko’s late leveller was a cruel blow as it denied them a win that would have drawn The Hammers level with Nottingham Forest in 17th place.
Instead, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain in the relegation zone in 18th, two points from safety.
Carrick spent the formative years of his playing career with the London club and admitted he is hoping they can find a route to safety this season.
“Now that we’re done with them – I’d love them to stay up,” Carrick said.
“It was a big part of my life growing up, and great memories here, so hopefully they do.”
Sesko ‘not so happy with draw’
Sesko came off the bench to bag his second goal in three games, having scored the winner – also as a substitute – against Fulham recently.
The Slovenia forward has scored four Premier League goals in his last five games as he starts to find some form following a big-money move from RB Leipzig last summer, and showed his class with a deft flick.
“I’m happy with my finish but not so happy with the draw,” Sesko told TNT Sports.
“I know we deserved the win because we were fighting. Unfortunately, days come when you are bit unlucky.
“Maybe there was not the intensity that there should be, but we were fighting and in the end, we got a draw, which is really important.”
On the recent upturn in form under Carrick, he added: “We feel amazing. We are doing everything together, when difficult moments come, we step in together, which is really important and can lead to results like right now.”
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