Michael Carrick has called on his Manchester United players to set aside the frustration of their derby defeat and refocus without delay, even as questions remain over the VAR decision that allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal to stand.

The result left Manchester United on the wrong end of a bitterly contested Manchester derby, with Carrick acknowledging a sense of injustice over the way the match was ultimately settled — yet insisting his squad must channel that frustration into their next challenge rather than dwell on the controversy.

Haaland's decisive strike proved to be the difference between the two sides, and the manner in which it was permitted — despite apparent doubts — added a layer of grievance to Manchester United's defeat.

Carrick, however, was clear in his message to the dressing room: look forward, not back. In a fiercely competitive league, the ability to recover from setbacks quickly can define a team's season, and the Manchester United manager was determined not to allow one painful result to derail his side's momentum.