Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has expressed continued faith in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system despite a recent controversial decision that adversely affected his team. The incident occurred during last weekend’s Manchester derby, where Erling Haaland’s winning goal for Manchester City stood despite Enzo Fernandez being in an offside position and interfering with play. Officials from refereeing body Pro Ref later acknowledged an “error of judgment” and issued an apology, with chief Howard Webb admitting disappointment over the mistake.
Carrick described the VAR error as a “particularly tough” moment but emphasized that the apology from officials “doesn’t mean an awful lot” in terms of reversing the impact on the match result. He acknowledged the significance of the decision, noting it had a “huge impact” on the game, which ended 1-0 in favor of City despite the hosts playing with ten men for much of the match after a red card to Phil Foden.
Following the derby defeat, United’s difficulties continued with a 3-2 loss at home to Brighton in the Carabao Cup third round, marking the first time Carrick has overseen back-to-back home defeats since he took charge in January. This series of setbacks raised questions about Manchester United’s ability to convert opportunities and whether the team lacks a decisive edge.
Carrick acknowledged that while fine margins and refereeing decisions can affect results, it is important not to let such moments define the entire season. “It can have an impact in the moment,” he said, “but we can’t let it have an impact on the rest of the season. That’s for us to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.”
Despite frustration over the VAR controversy, United chose not to pursue further action against Pro Ref. Club officials appreciated the refereeing body's willingness to acknowledge the error and explain how the mistake occurred. Carrick also suggested that over the course of the season, refereeing errors may balance out, referencing the “law of averages” as a factor in football.
On the pitch, United struggled to capitalize on having a numerical advantage against City, with key moments including attempts from Robbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford hitting the post, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making crucial saves. Carrick maintained that recent challenges do not necessarily signal longstanding issues within the squad but rather reflect short-term difficulties.
Looking ahead, Manchester United are set to travel to Fulham, a venue where United have historically not lost since Carrick’s playing days in 2009. After four Premier League matches, United have accumulated four points, a tally marking one of their poorest starts to a season in recent years. Carrick and his squad face the task of recovering from a difficult week and stabilizing their campaign.