There is an understandable sense of injustice at Man Utd following VAR's blunder in the Manchester derby.
Matheus Cunha started up front.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
View Image
The selling point of introducing VAR to the Premier League was that it would eliminate mistakes and make every decision correct and fair.
However, the apology Manchester United received from Pro Ref late on Sunday night for the "error of judgement" from VAR in allowing Erling Haaland's goal to stand is the latest in a shocking series of blunders.
Pro Ref conceded that an on-field review should have been recommended because Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and had interfered with play.
There is enough evidence to suggest the VAR Hub at Stockley Park is not fit for purpose, but the cost of introducing the technology to the game was enormous, and sadly there seems to be no way back.
Michael Carrick sarcastically said “that'd be great, that, I can't wait for that one” when it was put to him that Pro Ref could end up apologising for allowing Haaland’s winner. While Carrick is calm by nature, he was clearly furious after the final whistle.
There is a sense of injustice at United following the mistake, though the truth is the Reds also have themselves to blame for defeat in the Manchester derby, as they offered little threat against 10 men for 70 minutes.
Before added time when Bryan Mbeumo should have scored, United had recorded two shots on target, had 15 shots in total and had an xG of just 0.54. They were blunt at home in one of the biggest games of the season.
Carrick predictably started with the striker-less attack he's shown a liking for since his return to the club, selecting Matheus Cunha to play down the middle, with Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford on the flanks.
Cunha did not impact the game up front again. He recorded 46 touches of the ball, made 28 passes and did not muster a shot on target. Carrick's selection of the Brazilian was logical, given a striker-less attack was seen as beneficial for counter-attacks, but the dynamic of the game changed when Phil Foden was sent off. The United boss failed to make a move.
Benjamin Sesko should have been introduced in a straight swap for Cunha at half-time. He would have provided a focal point for the entire second half and been a target in the box as City dropped back.
Questions can be asked of City's back four by playing crosses into the box, but United were limited to long-range efforts, with the exception of Mbeumo's chance in added time, which he won't want to watch back.
The selection of Patrick Dorgu at left-back didn't go to plan again. Dorgu may have won the man of the match award against Sabah in the Champions League, but his defensive work in that clash was unconvincing.
Luke Shaw was not fit enough to feature again - he watched the game from the directors' box - leaving Carrick to choose between Dorgu, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui to play at left-back.
Dorgu lost the ball in the build-up to City's winner. He had time to head back to a teammate, but he panicked with Iliman Ndiaye in his peripheral vision and conceded possession before getting pulled to right-back.
The Dorgu experiment has not worked and must be ditched. Mazraoui should have started at left-back, a position he has played for United when required and in which he impressed for Morocco during the World Cup.
Carrick said United will "take the positives and move on", but it's hard to take many from the Manchester derby. Kobbie Mainoo did perform well, and almost scored when hitting the post, and Rashford also struck the post from a free-kick.
Football at the top level is a game of fine margins, but United should have made sure their near misses were not a factor by creating more chances against a team that was down a man.
"They love the transition space behind. The game became more difficult for us and them," Enzo Maresca said during his post-match press conference, observing a problem that Carrick can't seem to get to grips with.
United have now made a bad start to the season, picking up four points from their four league games. The United job comes attached with constant pressure, but it has been cranked up after the derby.
It would be wrong to say Wednesday's game against Brighton in the Carabao Cup is a must-win, but going out of the cup would turn a bad start into a very bad start.
Carrick needs to find the answers. Although United were wronged by VAR in the Manchester derby, the bottom line is that they did not deserve to win.