The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Carrick knows taming of Shrews not a given
FA Cup: Warning for Man United after Europa humiliation
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick knows they could suffer further humiliation at Shrewsbury on Monday if they do not raise their performance level fromThursday’s sorry defeat by FC Midtjylland.
In the latest substandard display of an increasingly troubled season, United lost 2-1 to the Danish outfit in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie, one of the most embarrassing results in the club’s European history.
Supporters at the MCH Arena in Herning made their feelings about the team’s performanceknown at the end, hurling expletive-laden abuse, and midfielder Carrick has apologised for the display.
Three days before they attemptto rescuethe second leg, United play Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, with a quarter-fin al pl a c e up for grabs.
The Shrews should be confident of taming United and Carrick knows an upset is expected.
The former West Ham midfielder said: “Monday is a different game but we do need to be so much better than we were on Thursday. We know what Monday is going to be – it has been shown many times. It’s going tobe a tough game. And (the Midtjylland match) has shown if we are not anywhere near our best then we can slip up, so we need to be ready.
“If weare at our best then we should win the game, but it is not as easy as that – as Thursday night showed.”
United were memorably thrashed 4-0 in the Capital One Cup last season at then- League 1 side MK Dons and Carrick has insisted he and his teammates will be doing everything they can to emerge from the low of Thursday.
“We were bitterly disappointed, frustrated and angry at the perfor- mance, but over the next few days we will get ourselves ready,” said the 34year-old, United’s captain onThursday in the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney.
“We have to pick ourselves up and go again – there is no other way.”
As for United’s supporters, Carrick was not about to throw stones and added: “Theyhavebeen incredible. We haven’t given them an awful lot to shout about in the last two or three years but they have stuck by us, supported us incredibly well, and I can only really apologise for losing.”