Michael Carrick felt bad when Manchester United lost to Leeds United. (Image: Getty)
Lisandro Martinez stared into space, in disbelief that he had been sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee led his teammates into the dressing room.
Michael Carrick appeared furious at the decision on the touchline and made his displeasure known after the game. Yellow cards were waved towards the Manchester United dugout for protesting. Manuel Ugarte watched everything unfold just a few meters away.
United had not played since the first whistle against Leeds last night, but the starting of Ugarte and Martinez was perhaps the biggest reason for Carrick’s second defeat as caretaker manager.
Koby Mainu was absent due to a minor injury sustained during training. Ugarte entered the starting team with terrible results. He has only won once in nine starts this season, losing to Grimsby Town, Manchester City, Brentford, Aston Villa and Brighton.
Ugarte had not started under Carrick until the game against Leeds, but the reason for his role in the fringe team became clear when he allowed Jayden Bogle to cross into the box to set up Noah Okafor’s goal five minutes into the game.
United fans were quick to share their groans with Ugarte when he stood on the ball too long and delayed build-up play. When Ugarte slipped a pass into the box at the end of the first half, the murmurs of discontent grew louder and Luke Shaw shook his head.
If Ugarte remains at United next season, something has gone very wrong. He struggled in his second campaign and was unable to perform at a high level to begin with. United must cut their losses and recoup as much as possible from the £42.3m they spent to sign him from PSG.
Carrick may also regret his decision to start Martinez after the layoff. The defender last played against West Ham on February 10, but quickly returned to the squad after recovering from injury.
Leeds’ second goal looked like a Benny Hill sketch. Martínez attempted to play from the back and sent a hospital pass to Casemiro, but his subsequent attempt to clear the danger failed.
Martinez at least made a brilliant recovery just before half-time to deny Leeds a three-goal advantage, but pulling Calvert-Lewin’s hair was a foolish move.
Manuel Ugarte doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League (Image: Getty)
Lisandro Martinez sent off for hair pulling (Image: Getty)
The incident was reviewed by VAR and Martinez was given a straight red for violent behavior. Although it was clear that the act was not violent, Martinez was sent off due to the precedent set by PGMOL.
United organized a training camp in the Republic of Ireland during the 24-day break between games, while Leeds traveled to Old Trafford after an exciting FA Cup victory over West Ham. “We are the famous Leeds United and we are going to Wembley,” it was broadcast in the away section.
United’s visit to Ireland was described as an opportunity for Carrick to oversee the team’s “intense” training period. There was nothing spectacular about United’s performance, which was a disastrous first half.
The Reds have suffered from a lack of games this season, making it difficult for them to find a rhythm, but United have only themselves to blame for missing out on European qualification and losing both domestic cups at the first opportunity.
Nemanja Vidic and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were in the director’s box. Ratcliffe sat with his arms crossed and as Leeds fans celebrated Okafor’s deflected second goal, Carrick cut out the same frustrated figure on the touchline.
United needed the help of the crowd when they were down by two goals, and the fans did their part. There was an uproar at Old Trafford when Casemiro headed home the Stretford End to make it 2-1, but the result might have been different had the Brazilian not had another header denied on the goal line with just minutes left in normal time.
The silver lining for Carrick was his team’s positive reaction to his sending off, but in the end United missed out on a chance to put themselves three points ahead of Aston Villa in the race for third place in the top flight. Leeds manager Daniel Farke took a knee on the touchline after the final whistle.
Ruben Amorim’s last game in charge of United was against Leeds in January. Amorim gave himself the job in an explosive post-match press conference at Elland Road, and Carrick arrived 10 days later.
When Amorim crossed the bridge with United’s hierarchy. United were in 6th place, 11 points behind third-placed Aston Villa, but with Carrick moving United up the table, United surpassed Villa on goal difference and a return to the Champions League is almost certain.
United have six games left this season and need to regain the form they showed in Carrick’s first few weeks as manager if they are to secure a return to Europe’s elite competition.
And although there was never much doubt, Ugarte is not a player fit for the Champions League.
