Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has admitted that the atmosphere at the Boleyn Ground may well have gotten to his team on Tuesday night, which helped West Ham taste victory over the Red Devils.
The visitors knew they had a glorious chance to climb into the top four with only one round of fixtures remaining, but needed to beat the Hammers to leapfrog local rivals Manchester City and move within 90 minutes of claiming Champions League football in 2016-17.
United found themselves 2-1 up in the second half courtesy of an Anthony Martial double, but West Ham rallied to win 3-2 after goals from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid.
Carrick has admitted that the atmosphere created by the home faithful may well have played a part in West Ham’s resurgence but stated that United should have closed out the game when they were in the lead.
“We were in a good position but we didn’t help ourselves. You have got to be better than that, cleverer than that,” the United midfielder is quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
“The atmosphere was loud and what we expected before the game. We have been in big atmospheres before. You have got to deal with that.
“It is Man City’s hands now [to finish in the top four]. We have let that slip. We have got to win our final game and see what happens.”
Carrick is out of contract at Old Trafford this summer and has been linked with a return to West Ham.
