Manchester United manager Michael Carrick emerged from the Manchester Derby visibly wounded — and with every right to be furious. An incorrect VAR ruling allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal to stand, and Pro Ref subsequently issued an apology admitting officials had made a mistake. Yet the refereeing error, as infuriating as it was, cannot shoulder the full blame for United's defeat.

The goal that should never have stood

VAR failed to account for Enzo Fernandez's interference with Lisandro Martinez and Senne Lammens, a clear oversight that left Carrick seething in his post-match interviews. "If that's the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that's really worrying for me," Carrick told the BBC. "It's a staggering explanation." The apology from Pro Ref confirmed what United already knew — they had been wronged.

Carrick has wanted this job since he played his 464th and final game for Manchester United in 2018 at the age of 36 and stepped into coaching. His former manager Jose Mourinho, recognising that ambition early, handed him a whistle and a role in training sessions. Now that he holds the top job, the responsibility means everything to him — and that made the derby defeat cut all the deeper.

Tactical questions Carrick must answer

The VAR controversy, however, cannot obscure the decisions Carrick himself got wrong on the day. Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute, giving United a numerical advantage they never fully exploited. Carrick waited a full 45 minutes after that dismissal before introducing Benjamin Sesko to sharpen the attack, preferring instead the false nine approach of Matheus Cunha.

When Sesko did arrive, he replaced Youri Tielemans rather than Cunha, crowding the No 10 space around Cunha and Bruno Fernandes. A simpler solution was available: withdraw Cunha and keep Tielemans, preserving the team's shape while adding a direct striker. Alternatively, switching Marcus Rashford centrally and moving Cunha to the left could have posed City an entirely different problem.

Enzo Maresca, by contrast, read the game sharply. His half-time introduction of Iliman Ndiaye for Rayan Cherki, combined with Antoine Semenyo staying high, stretched United's backline and changed the contest. Carrick was outmanoeuvred.

Context and patience still matter

None of this means Carrick deserves to be written off. He has inherited a squad that compares poorly with those available to rival managers, and United's failure to provide him with adequate full-backs — Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu have both been found wanting — is a genuine handicap. The club's flaky defensive structure contributed as much to the defeat as any tactical misjudgement.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, new managers are also finding their feet. Xabi Alonso has defensive problems to solve at Chelsea; Andoni Iraola is still imposing his methods on Liverpool; and Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham Hotspur sit 17th despite spending £344 million. Unai Emery's Aston Villa, with one point from four games, are 19th. Patience is a virtue being tested across the division.

Carrick steered United back into the UEFA Champions League, a feat that earned him the permanent role. He is a serious coach who cares about this club with genuine depth. Only Kobbie Mainoo truly rose to the occasion in the derby. Carrick did not — but the season is young, and knee-jerk verdicts serve nobody. He deserves time to learn, adapt, and prove his worth.