Michael Carrick admitted that “defeat hurts” after Manchester United F.C. suffered a 2–1 loss to Newcastle United F.C. on Wednesday, marking the first time he has been beaten since taking charge of the club.
The match at St James’ Park dealt a setback to United’s push for UEFA Champions League qualification.
Substitute William Osula scored the decisive goal for the hosts despite Newcastle being reduced to 10 men, sealing a dramatic victory late in the game.
Carrick, a former United midfielder who became manager in January, had enjoyed a strong start to his tenure. Before the defeat, he had recorded six wins and one draw in his first seven matches in charge.
The game turned tense late in the first half when Jacob Ramsey was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Newcastle managed to take the lead through Anthony Gordon, who converted a penalty.
United responded before the break when Casemiro equalised, restoring parity and giving the visitors hope heading into the second half.
However, Manchester United failed to capitalise on their man advantage after the restart. With the match nearing its conclusion, Osula produced a moment of brilliance by sprinting down the right flank before cutting inside and curling a powerful shot past goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Carrick expressed disappointment with his team’s performance.
“We are not happy the way we played tonight. The way the game panned out we had it in our hands largely but credit to Newcastle and the way they approached it,” he said.
“I don’t think it was the 10 men, we just didn’t play good enough. We can’t make excuses for that. We all take responsibility.”
Despite the setback, Carrick remains optimistic about United’s prospects this season. The club currently sits third in the Premier League standings and is still firmly in contention for a top-five finish.
“We’ve lost one game. In the grand scheme of things we are in a decent position,” he said. “Tonight hurts but we will be better for the next one.”
