Draw Frustrates Carrick

Michael Carrick says United's players will take responsibility for improving results following the frustrating 1-1 draw with Southampton at Old Trafford.

Just one minute of normal time remained when Dejan Lovren equalized Robin van Persie’s first-half strike, and earlier the woodwork had twice stopped the Premier League champions from extending their lead.

Adnan Januzaj was denied by a fine save from Saints keeper Artur Boruc, but the late goal from the visitors left the England international regretting how a likely three points became just one.

“We are frustrated and disappointed. We just needed a second goal, and we created enough but their ‘keeper made some terrific saves,” Carrick told MUTV.

“We had opportunities, but I felt comfortable in the game. Even though we weren’t dominating in terms of possession, I felt quite comfortable with how it was going.

“I thought we defended well, but they only needed that one chance. We go away disappointed again, as we have done recently, and it’s frustrating because things haven’t gone the way we wanted them to. But, as players, we have to stand up, take responsibility and get better.

“We thought we would see it out and were confident that we could get another one, so frustrated is probably the word. We weren’t at our best, and we know that, but at the same time I thought we created enough to win the game.”

Carrick is looking forward to the chance for United to quickly return to winning ways, at home to Real Sociedad in midweek.

“It’s not easy for us to think about the table now, it’s not something we are used to, but we will keep believing. We’re confident that everything is in place, but for some reason it isn’t quite clicking for us at the minute.

"I believe that soon we’ll be back up there, we’ve got a game on Wednesday and we’re in decent shape in the Champions League, so we’ll look forward to that game. That’s what we do, we have a setback and we bounce back, but we don’t want too many of them.”

Prior to the meeting with Southampton, Adnan Januzaj signed a new, five-year contract with United, and Carrick already sees the 18-year-old as a force in David Moyes’ squad.

“I think the deal is good for everyone: the club, the squad, and for Adnan himself. He’s definitely at the right place, there are a lot of players that have developed here and fulfilled their potential. He’s started in the first team very early here, so I think everyone has to be patient with him.

"He’s going to have games where he is terrific, and he’s going to have games where it doesn’t fall for him, but that’s what will happen at that age. We don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but at the same time it’s great news, and he’s a major part of the squad now.”