Michael Carrick has said that Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Everton “feels like a defeat” after his team conceded a 96th-minute equaliser at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in stoppage time for the hosts after United had twice taken the lead on Merseyside.
Substitute Benjamin Sesko thought he had won it for the visitors in the 88th minute before a stunner from Everton debutant Maitland-Niles denied Carrick’s side all three points.
“We’re bitterly disappointed,” the United boss said. “To be up in the position we were in in the game twice so close to the end and all the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages, to come away like that is not a great feeling.
“It feels like a defeat which is the obvious thing to say at this stage. We have taken a point, we can’t ignore that but it feels like we should have had a lot more.”
The result leaves United 11th in the table, having managed one win, one draw and one defeat so far this season.
However, Carrick appeared to take issue with the suggestion it has been a poor start to the campaign from his side, insisting there is much more to come from them this term.
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“We haven’t started the season that bad, to be honest,” Carrick said. “It’s not that bad. We were that close to coming away with three points today. That’s football. There are little moments we could deal with better but we’ll be fine.”
One of the biggest positives for United on Sunday was the performance of Marcus Rashford, who impressed on the left wing before being withdrawn with a knock in the second half.
“He was just feeling a bit of something,” Carrick said of the forward. “He’s done very well. As I said during the week, he’s done really well since he came back. He looked really sharp today and dangerous.
“That final moment didn’t quite drop for him but nevertheless he created really good opportunities and gave us a big threat throughout the game.”
