Manchester United's difficult start to the season has been compounded by a controversial defeat in the Manchester derby, but manager Michael Carrick faces uncomfortable questions about his side's own shortcomings that extend well beyond any officiating errors.
United received confirmation from ProRef within hours of Sunday's final whistle that Erling Haaland's winning goal should have been ruled out for offside against Enzo Fernandez, with the governing body admitting to an "error of judgement". While the grievance over that particular decision is legitimate, it has become part of a pattern where United's setbacks are increasingly attributed to refereeing decisions rather than performance issues.
Carrick has now lost four matches since taking permanent charge, and has raised concerns about officiating after three of those defeats, yet has stopped short of publicly criticizing his own players. That contrast raises questions about how honestly the club is assessing its current struggles.
Four games into the campaign, the sample size remains small, and expected goals data actually paints a reasonably positive picture — United rank second for attacking output and fifth for defensive solidity in those underlying numbers. The actual Premier League table tells a different story, however, with United sitting 13th despite a schedule that included two promoted sides and an Everton team hampered by a chaotic transfer window. Defeat away at Fulham this weekend could leave United 11 points behind both Arsenal and Manchester City, raising fears the title race may already be beyond them.
Two performances in particular — against Hull City and Manchester City — have been especially poor, with United repeatedly failing to break down organized, deep-lying defenses. Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca observed that the derby became noticeably harder for United once Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute for kicking Bruno Fernandes, yet United still could not capitalize against ten men — echoing last season's home loss to Everton under previous management, when the team similarly struggled for ideas against a reduced opposition.
United's attacking output away from weaker opposition has been alarming. Nine of their goals this season have come against Ipswich Town, freshly promoted from the Championship, and Sabah, from Azerbaijan's top flight — hardly a marker of Premier League quality. Carrick's team selections have also drawn scrutiny. Benjamin Sesko, the club's £66 million signing, described his troublesome shin as "perfect" following injury, yet has repeatedly been left on the bench, with Carrick again delaying his introduction against City. Matheus Cunha, meanwhile, has struggled in a false-nine role, managing only one goal this season — coming against Sabah while playing from the left rather than through the middle.
Part of Carrick's dilemma stems from inheriting a forward line assembled with a different tactical setup in mind, leaving Cunha without his preferred central attacking role, which is currently occupied by Bruno Fernandes, while his alternative position has been taken by Marcus Rashford. Adding to the uncertainty, Carrick has yet to field the club's most expensive summer signing, Carlos Baleba, who remains unavailable through injury. Andrey Santos, signed from Chelsea, was dropped after his debut appearance at Hull, leaving homegrown midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as first choice despite mixed form — impressive against Ipswich and Sabah, but overshadowed against City's midfield pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez, who cost a combined £241 million.
Defensive frailties have been just as apparent. With Luke Shaw sidelined by an injury many considered inevitable, and no like-for-like replacement signed, Patrick Dorgu was forced into an unfamiliar left-back role against City. Elsewhere, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire have endured shaky starts at the back.
United's fortunes have not been helped by circumstance — their comeback win over Ipswich relied partly on a defensive slip and a handball rather than clear-cut quality — but the overriding message from this start to the season is that Carrick's side must find a way to solve games against well-organized opposition, rather than leaning on refereeing controversies to explain away their results.
Based on reporting from The Independent.