Michael Carrick apologises to Man United fans for shocking 1-2 defeat to Midtjylland
Man United players show their dejection after 1-2 defeat to Midtjylland on Thursday. Michael Carrick is on the extreme right
London: Michael Carrick has apologised to Manchester United fans after the team produced a performance in Thursday's Europa League defeat at FC Midtjylland for which he felt there could be "no excuses".
Man United players show their dejection after 1-2 defeat to Midtjylland on Thursday. Michael Carrick is on the extreme right. Pics/Getty Images
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The latest substandard display of United's increasingly troubled season saw them throw away the lead to go down 2-1 in the last-32, first-leg contest in Denmark — a result set to be looked back upon as one of the most embarrassing in their European history.
Fans dejected
Eight hundred Red Devils supporters made the trip to the MCH Arena in Herning for a match that cost £71 per ticket to attend, and it was clear what some of the fans thought of what they had seen for their money at the end, with chants of "we're f*****g s**t" coming from the away section. United boss Louis van Gaal subsequently admitted when asked about the criticism: "Maybe they are right."
Manager Louis van Gaal (left) is frustrated after Manchester United’s loss while assistant manager Ryan Giggs (centre) looks on
And midfielder Carrick, who wore the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney, told MUTV: "I can't knock the supporters, they were incredible. "They've been great throughout my time at the club, especially during the last couple of years when they haven't had much to shout about. They've stuck with us and travelled to support us so I can only apologise.
"Hopefully we can give them some reward for the unbelievable support they've shown both the players and the club." United had 13 senior players they could not call upon for Thursday's game due to injury and illness. But Carrick stressed: "You can talk about injuries but, irrespective of that, we can't make any excuses. To come here and lose is nowhere near good enough."
United led through Memphis Depay's 37th-minute finish, but Pione Sisto levelled seven minutes later as he took advantage of a Carrick mistake, and Midtjylland substitute Paul Onuachu then fired in a fine strike 13 minutes from time.
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