Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has rejected suggestions that a lack of confidence was behind his side's slow start against Tottenham, despite pundits claiming the team were bereft of self-belief. United saw Tottenham come from behind to earn a point at Old Trafford, but Carrick's team were second-best during the opening half.
Booed at half-time and full-time
United were faced with boos upon the half-time and full-time whistle as they failed to impress before letting three points go to waste against their 10-man opponents. With the home side 1-0 up, Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off after headbutting Luke Shaw, but United were unable to close out the game as Dominic Solanke netted a late equaliser.
While he was frustrated, Carrick does not believe that confidence was a factor and was pleased his team worked their way back into the game.
"I don't think it is lack of confidence," he said following the match. "But a game can get away from you very quickly. We found a way right back into the game, and got ourselves in a great position - that is one of the most disappointing things."
Carrick on the boos
Asked about the boos his team received, he said: "It's not nice, it hurts a lot because I care about this club. But I understand the disappointment. The reality is what it is; we need to get back to winning games."
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes confidence is just one of a number of issues facing Manchester United. The former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder produced a savage assessment of the Premier League's 12th-placed team.
He criticised the team's structure and suggested the squad was not good enough for Carrick to be successful as they earned their sixth point from six matches, their worst tally at this stage of the season in 40 years.
Pundit criticism
"Brighton in the Carabao Cup, 2-0 up and lose 3-2, that is unprecedented and does not happen at Old Trafford, except it does with this team," Redknapp vented. "I do not see enough connections in that midfield and they look devoid of any confidence, ideas, or patterns of play, playing out the back and Tottenham were just much better than them in every department, but that is just a theme this season. Their energy levels are not good enough and they look loose going forward, there was no real structure. The squad is not good or strong enough and Michael [Carrick] needs help in that respect."
Ex-Tottenham winger Chris Waddle also pointed to United lacking confidence as an issue for Carrick. He believes both United and Spurs will improve over the course of the season, however.
"I think Tottenham looked promising there, first half they were very good," he said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Second half Man Utd upped the tempo. Tottenham have played very well. United have got work to do. They've lost confidence and need to build that back up. But at the minute, I think both teams will do OK this season. They just need confidence."
