This was not just a loss. This was not just a collapse. This was not just a cup exit. Another Manchester United managerial project is heading in the same direction. And even Michael Carrick admits it.
“We’re out of the cup and the feeling around the country feels bigger than that,” he said. “I’m quite happy to be honest about it. That’s how it feels.”
It’s a story that’s been seen before. A miserable Carabao Cup experience at the first hurdle – this time throwing away a 2-0 lead to go to Brighton – returns to the memories of Ruben Amorim’s disappointing defeat at Grimsby last yearwhich helped signal the beginning of the end.
A cup outing to the Seagulls was also reminiscent FA Cup defeat United suffered by Fabian Hurzeler’s team at the beginning of the year. This was the last game before Carrick returned to the club and sparked a mini-resurgence. Now it seems that United are back on the square again.
Even Pascal Gross’s equalizer at Old Trafford brought back memories of how he scored twice at home to United in August 2022 to end Erik ten Hag’s stay, just as Carrick faces an uphill battle now.
Gross still doing business four years later is a huge testament to the German’s longevity at 35 – but it’s an even worse reflection of United’s lack of progress in that time.
Since that match in 2022, which came 1,502 days ago, Gross has secured European football for Brighton, left the club for Borussia Dortmund, joined the Seagulls, brought them back to Europe, watched United spend £365m on seven new central midfielders – and yet he towered over United’s midfield.
Brighton’s Pascal Gross, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal
Around £140m of that pot started for United against Brighton in Youri Tielemans, Mason Mount and Andrey Santos, while another £70m in Carlos Baleba watched from the stands as his old club beat his new one. What must he think?
As against Hull on the opening weekend of the season, United were beaten by Brighton. “They didn’t look fit enough,” said Jamie Redknapp. “I don’t know if a lot of them do enough. I saw a lot of players who didn’t run or didn’t look fit enough.”
Many can point to the nine changes Carrick made, with many of United’s players coming into the team after weeks on the Premier League bench. But Brighton also made six changes to their regular line-up, including the first starts for the club in four summer signings. What was their excuse?
Once again, the lack of investment in defensive positions during the market was very clear. The warnings about not addressing this position were there – and a big reason for Brighton turning the game on its head were the defensive performances of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.
Michael Carrick looked upset as his Manchester United side were beaten by Brighton
“Without the experience of the two young centre-backs it definitely showed,” said Redknapp. The pair were simply inept at everything they did. If you look at Luka Vuskovic, who is 18 or 19 years old, at this level he has aggressiveness, winning challenges, recovery progress.
“And you watched the two of them playing at United, who were playing like everything was easy, making bad decisions – there was a difference in Brighton’s defense when it came to doing their business.”
The difference was seen in the second goal, as Vuskovic won a header past Benjamin Sesko and the ball went straight into the heart of the United defense for Gross to score easily.
Paradise was caught on its heels and failed to meet. “He doesn’t anticipate the danger. Sprint, go to the penalty spot. But he’s running.
“And Yoro, what kind of effort is that to stop the shot? How easy was that? This isn’t a five-way race.”
And for the third goal, Yoro was again caught running after Brighton broke through to score – not only highlighting Redknapp’s defensive concerns for United, but also their own fitness. “You must run Leny,” he said. “He’s running. If he runs, he turns and makes that block.”
But while United are making familiar mistakes, they are still making unwanted history.
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Michael Carrick hits back at Old Trafford after Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
Not only was it the first time in 50 years that an opposition team had won at Old Trafford after being 2-0 down, it was the first time United had lost at home after holding a 551 half-time lead.
The time before the defeat to Brighton came in 1984, which predates Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club. We make the joint-worst start to a Premier League season after four games and the pressure is really mounting on Carrick.
United’s only win so far this season has been a 5-2 victory over Ipswich that saw United fight for the better part of an hour. And while there have been some mitigating factors – worlds at Everton and a controversial Manchester derby winner – there have been too many of them to be already one-off.
Sunday, September 20 at 4:00 p.m
Departure at 16:30
It all sets up a massive Super Sunday game this weekend at winless Fulham, facing their early problems under Alvaro Arbeloa. What follows is a three-week international break that is prime time for an early managerial change.
A win at Craven Cottage buys Carrick time. Lose and it will be a long question period.
