Michael Carrick’s Manchester United have generally been a joy to watch in recent months. They were not away to Sunderland. The manager made five changes from the team that beat Liverpool to secure Champions League football — and it told.
Senne Lammens saved smartly from Noah Sadiki in the opening exchanges, with Casemiro — “nothing major” according to Carrick — sorely missed in the midfield.
The home fans wanted a penalty in the 20th minute after the ball went close to their former loan star Amad’s hand but the VAR officials stuck with Stuart Attwell’s on-field decision. United finally came to life when Joshua Zirkzee, who struggled throughout, headed over Matheus Cunha’s cross on the stretch, but that was as good as it got for Carrick’s team in the opening period.
United were better after the interval — they had to be — and Amad was selfless to try to play in Cunha when he should have shot himself.
Lammens came to United’s rescue in the 66th minute when Brian Brobbey ran off Harry Maguire, but the goalkeeper made a super save to push the shot wide. The outside of the post then denied Lutsharel Geertruida as Sunderland stepped it up once more.
Cunha, when he should have scored, was denied by Robin Roefs in added time after brilliant work from Patrick Dorgu, even if that would have been harsh on the home side.
Laurie Whitwell analyses the talking points from the Stadium of Light.
How will United cope without Casemiro?
Casemiro was a surprise absentee from the squad, missing his first game since December, when he was suspended. He had started 18 games in a row for United, and there was no indication of any issues during Carrick’s pre-Sunderland press conference, but the Brazilian didn’t travel.
United’s head coach told MUTV before kick-off: “He’ll be fine for next week, nothing major.”
Casemiro’s exit this summer has long been announced, and repeatedly confirmed as the weeks have gone on, with his form provoking fans to chant, “One more year”. But by missing this game, he rendered the clause in his contract, which The Athletic revealed in January, obsolete.
Had he started 35 games this season, he could have triggered an extra year on his full £350,000 per week deal now that United are in the Champions League. He was on course to do that, but he can now only reach 34 starts.
It is a moot point, perhaps, with an agreement reached between him and the club about his future. He has been talking to other clubs, his position bolstered by being a free agent, and Inter Miami are keen to take him to the MLS.
His absence here gave United a peek at life after he goes, and what might be needed from whichever midfielder(s) they sign when the market opens.
Carrick selected Mason Mount in Casemiro’s position, a player with a significantly different skill set. Despite Casemiro being seen as one of the world’s best No 6s, Kobbie Mainoo has been the deeper midfielder in recent weeks, with the 34-year-old often getting forwards in search of scoring. Replacing his eight Premier League goals, all headers, will be tough for United, and Carrick’s side were not as threatening from their set pieces.
Mason Mount deputised for Casemiro (George Wood/Getty Images)
In open play against Sunderland, Mainoo was the player to drop into the back line to start attacks, with Mount pushing on as Casemiro would. His best moment came last in the first half when he won possession high, giving United a four-on-three attack, only for Zirkzee to waste the chance.
It was little surprise when Mount picked up a yellow card early in the second half for a foul on Omar Alderete. He had been snapping into tackles all match, nailing one excellent tackle on Enzo Le Fee in a dangerous moment, but also fouling Trai Hume on the edge of the box.
Mount made 14 defensive contributions, the most by a United player.
What will future hold for Zirkzee?
Zirkzee was starting his first game under Carrick, having last done so for United under Ruben Amorim in December, and while a degree of rustiness would be understandable, he delivered a poor performance.
He was starting because Benjamin Sesko had not recovered enough from the shin injury he exacerbated against Liverpool. There might have been the appeal, from a club executive perspective, of putting Zirkzee in the shop window.
Zirkzee is set to be a player United will listen to offers for in the summer, to boost funds for signings, but this display will not form a part of their sales pitch.
Joshua Zirkzee struggled throughout on a rare start (Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images)
Just before the half-hour mark, Zirkzee adapted well to a cross by Cunha but couldn’t get his header on target. But he cut a disinterested figure at other times.
His most egregious moment came when Mount put him through on the right for a four-on-three, only for him to hit the first man. He should have picked out Amad, Mount, or Bruno Fernandes.
He was booked for hauling down Alderete after the break and was Carrick’s first substitute on 65 minutes, coming off for Patrick Dorgu, with Cunha going from left wing to centre-forward. It was interesting that Carrick did not turn to Bryan Mbeumo at that time.
What next for Carrick?
United have picked up more points than any other Premier League side since Carrick’s appointment, and whether he now becomes the permanent head coach is the big question at the club.
The mood music has sounded good for that eventuality in recent weeks, with Carrick involved in planning meetings and Champions League qualification secured.
This game will not go down among the highlights of his interim spell, however. It was a grind for United in the swirling rain, with Sunderland much the more threatening side.
Lammens was excellent, saving early from Sadiki when one-on-one, and also pushing Brobbey’s firm close-range hit away from trouble. In the closing period, Geertruida hit the post with a shot on the slide.
That came from a lay-off from Brobbey, who caused United all kinds of problems with his physicality and hold-up play. Brobbey was a player Erik ten Hag wanted to bring to United when he was manager, and here he showed why.
Sadiki’s chance, from Le Fee’s pass, was triggered by Brobbey luring Maguire out before popping the ball off. Brobbey also teed up Geertruida’s strike.
United struggled to get a grip of Sunderland’s movement and aggression, and at one point in the first half, the home team had enjoyed 19 touches in the opposition box, compared to one for Carrick’s side.
United failed to have a shot on target, Amad going closest with an effort that went wide from a free kick Fernandes took short.
But at least they kept a clean sheet, only their seventh of the campaign. Their first came in October on Lammens’ debut against Sunderland at Old Trafford. It was United’s first 0-0 of the season.
Carrick’s call to select Lisandro Martinez instead of Ayden Heaven, who has started United’s last three wins, was interesting. Martinez’s passing, it appeared, was ranked higher than the height Heaven offers at set pieces.
What did Carrick say?
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Carrick said: “Tough game. Credit to Sunderland, we knew it would be tough coming here. We had to dig deep at times. To take a point when you’re not at your best is a good trait we’re trying to build. I quite liked a lot of the things that gave us the foundation to play better at certain times.
On whether this game meant more depth is needed in the summer, he said: “It’s one game. To overanalyse it, moving forward and judging the squad on one game, it’s not what we’ll do. We know the squad, the strengths and what we need to improve on. It doesn’t change our minds on that.”
On guarding against complacency now that United have secured Champions League football for next season, Carrick answered: “I almost get offended by that. The way the players prepared for the game, the way they left the changing room, we faced a tough game.
“If we weren’t in a good headspace, we would lose the game today. The fact that we pride ourselves and each other, the responsibility of playing for this club, the motivation, aren’t the reasons we’re not going to be brilliant. That won’t be the case.”
On the injuries of Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko: “Cas will be fine, it’s not a major issue. Ben, we’ll have to see; he’s been carrying a shin problem for a little bit of time.”
What next for United?
Sunday, May 17: Nottingham Forest (Away), Premier League, 12:30pm UK, 7:30am ET