Michael Carrick gave a blunt response when asked about Lisandro Martinez's red card after Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, and the manager pointedly avoided looking at the defender as he left the pitch.
Martinez, 28, received a second yellow card for jumping into Wesley Fofana with his arm raised at a free-kick he had conceded and been booked for moments earlier, after being beaten by Chelsea's opening goalscorer Morgan Rogers. Referee Peter Bankes was directed to review the incident on VAR, subsequently awarding a penalty and showing Martinez the red card.
Carrick's Reaction and the Penalty
As the Argentine trudged off towards the tunnel, Carrick was deep in conversation with assistant Steve Holland, the pair searching for a way back into the match. Cole Palmer stepped up to convert the penalty and double Chelsea's advantage, with Rogers having broken the deadlock shortly before half-time.
Carrick responded with a double substitution as Martinez headed for an early shower. When asked by TNT Sports after the game if he felt let down by Martinez, Carrick bluntly replied: "No."
Pundits Criticise Martinez
TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist criticised the 28-year-old, saying: "That's ridiculous defending, you're not on side you're just on any side and jumping into him. That's a penalty. He's just jumped into him to prevent a header... It's unacceptable. Lisandro Martinez just runs right across and it's absolutely crazy. He's let everyone down, his team-mates, everything."
Mark Schwarzer added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "For a defender of his level, that is just lazy. That is almost unforgivable. He leads with his arm into the face of Fofana."
Late Chances and Growing Pressure
Chelsea came close to a third when Palmer teed up Estevao for a one-on-one, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. United keeper Senne Lammens then denied Estevao from range, before a mammoth 10 minutes of stoppage time was signalled. Bryan Mbeumo thundered a half-volley from outside the box, only to see it crash back off the crossbar via the fingertips of Mike Penders.
Chelsea kept their composure in the dying stages to seal United's ninth match without a victory. The result heaps further pressure on Carrick, who narrowly kept his job earlier this week following a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday. If at least two of Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Sunderland pick up wins, United could find themselves dragged into the relegation zone come the weekend's end.
