Sunderland vs. Man United FULL REACTION! Will Carrick be disappointed with 0-0 draw? 🤔 | ESPN FC

0:00 nil nil.

0:00 Not much to see in that game today between Sunderland and Manchester United.

0:04 Kari and Yiananish Mahalik here to talk about what we did see.

0:08 I suppose we'll start with the fact that United

0:10 shot on target came in the 92nd minute.

0:12 Yish, and it was probably a a shot

0:15 that would have won the game for them from Kuna.

0:17 Uh yeah, I I think you kind of knew

0:20 with the five changes uh Manchester United has made,

0:23 right, after they've accomplished what they uh wanted to accomplish,

0:27 which is uh uh you know,

0:28 last weekend win against Liverpool and in the Champions League,

0:32 a game with u no implications really, right?

0:35 Uh but I think one that both teams would have taken uh

0:38 at this stage knowing uh the sort

0:40 of season Manchester United had the start, right?

0:43 Nobody foreseen uh uh uh this happening and Sunderland

0:47 of course their job was to make sure that they

0:49 stay in the Premier League and both have accomplished

0:52 that would have paid money ahead of the season.

0:55 Certainly Manchester United for sure.

0:56 So uh I kind of saw this coming uh for me Kate

1:00 the most important thing when it comes to Manchester United first was

1:04 to to finish the season with this this sort of momentum and really

1:09 uh don't have the drop off and play for the Guffer, right?

1:11 They owe him that.

1:12 the old Michael Carrick uh sort of uh uh what he's brought

1:16 into the team and that that massive turnaround since he came in in January.

1:21 Yeah, let's use this then to talk about Michael Carrick if we can

1:24 and a few other things with big

1:26 topics surrounding Manchester United at the moment.

1:28 Going into this game today,

1:29 there was talk about Manchester United looking to secure that third

1:32 spot and Michael Carrick looking to secure the full-time role going forward.

1:37 Where do you stand on it?

1:40 Oh, I I mean it's going to be difficult.

1:42 I I I can appreciate, you know,

1:44 certainly the job that he's done because uh he's turned around a a sinking ship.

1:49 I mean, totally totally sinking ship.

1:51 Uh I mean, nobody has foreseen that.

1:53 I don't think much has changed, right?

1:55 If you look at this Manchester United, this is not a team of stars.

1:59 This is not an exceptional team.

2:01 This is a team that doesn't really have quality or depth of squad.

2:05 Uh uh but Michael Carrick did what others failed to do.

2:08 Uh just bring in uh simplicity.

2:11 uh brought the team back to this system of play as we all know,

2:14 we've talked about it, that they they've enjoyed.

2:17 And although I'm not in that dressing room, uh I think we can all say

2:20 from outside looking in a someone that players respect,

2:25 enjoy, and like playing under.

2:28 Yeah, absolutely.

2:29 Now, this week, uh Bruno Fernandez was named

2:32 the Football Raiders Association player of the year,

2:36 beating out Declan Rice and Erling Harland.

2:38 it to go divided opinion you know in our ESPNFC FC studio Yanesh

2:43 and I wonder where you stand on it because if you look at Bruno

2:46 Fernandez obviously he was looking to get that 20th assist today which are

2:49 incredible numbers we also got the stat that he's been in well going

2:53 into the match day involved in more goals in the Premier League than

2:56 anyone else in the Premier League since mid January and obviously when things

3:01 have been tough at Manchester United he has consistently been one of the shining

3:06 bright stars there so where do you stand on him winning this award.

3:10 Looks two schools of thought.

3:12 I think, you know, I've been here just about every weekend and and you know,

3:15 now for weeks been saying that, you know,

3:17 if Bruno Fernandez gets it, I'm okay with it, right?

3:19 He has single-handedly brought Manchester United to where they are right now.

3:24 uh you know maybe we'll get to talk about what Manchester United needs next

3:27 season which is quite a bit but just forget all of that but and who's

3:31 going to be the manager which type of players they're going to get

3:34 but imagine imagine if Manchester United this season or in season you know

3:39 or in part in in particular in this season uh if you know if

3:44 he breaks down where would United be I mean there's nobody else there that could

3:48 carry that team nobody there's not one player that I think that's capable

3:51 with the way he plays with his attitude

3:53 the fact that he's always playing anyway.

3:56 I I don't wish him to break down, but just imagine if that happens.

3:59 So, that's one school of thought.

4:01 The other one I suspect the conversation was,

4:04 you've mentioned that ESPNFC has talked about it.

4:07 I'm not sure is Declan Rice uh and and you know,

4:10 I can understand that uh as well, right?

4:12 Because I mean, look where Arsenal are in front of them still a very very

4:18 good chance of being the champions of the league

4:20 and the final of the Champions League.

4:22 I think in terms of leadership, very much the same as Bruno uh Fernandez, right?

4:28 But I think I think that Arsenal has

4:30 got a little bit more that they could handle.

4:33 U you know, for those that are in the camp of Declan Rice,

4:36 I suppose you have to look at it.

4:38 I mean, look, you know, and again, looking forward to Manchester United, I mean,

4:42 what would have happened if they had to play twice a week,

4:44 which they which they didn't, right?

4:46 They had always had a week to prepare,

4:48 to rest, and and and organize and all of that.

4:50 uh for the most part.

4:52 So, apples and oranges to some degree.

4:54 I value both players immensely and as I've said it in the past,

4:59 I'll say it again, I will I would have been fine with either decision.

5:03 Both players absolutely outstanding this season.

5:06 I suppose another thing to look at going forward for Manchester

5:08 United that stands out today is there was no Casemiro.

5:11 Do you think he was missed?

5:12 And obviously we know Casemiro is not going to be around next season.

5:15 Is this an area that United need to be looking at going into the new campaign?

5:19 Yeah, and even with the uptick in form, uh, you know,

5:22 I don't want to be a hypocrite because, uh, again, you know,

5:25 being here the entire season on on these after the games,

5:28 uh, you know, Kazmiro, I mean,

5:30 it wasn't very good when United were were not going because,

5:33 you know, that's the difference, right?

5:35 When you have momentum, Kazmiro is very much player.

5:38 When things go well for your team,

5:40 he's going to show you the qualities because you don't forget that.

5:43 But because of his his age and because of the inability to run bucks

5:47 to bucks sometimes as need be as he was doing you know often not

5:51 always uh you know uh at Real Madrid you know when things don't go

5:55 well he's not a chasing anymore he's not a player that's going to be

5:58 covering on the right wing if somebody doesn't get back in time on the you

6:02 know sliding over on the left hand side and you know it's just

6:05 difficult I mean he's been you know an incredible midfielder uh we all know

6:09 that but I think uh you know that change was always going to be needed.

6:14 So, did they miss him today?

6:16 Absolutely, because Manchester United have had the momentum.

6:19 They would have wanted to keep the, you know, the winning streak going.

6:23 Uh, but I think it was more today than just that.

6:25 As I've mentioned, five five changes to this team is a lot.

6:29 The depth in squad, it just isn't there.

6:31 A little word on Sunderland if we can because obviously

6:34 Sunderland battled and fought and probably could have won this game.

6:40 Yeah, I mean, they were the better team.

6:41 I I think you know one of the teams you know if

6:44 I if I look at Senna Lemons goalkeeper right you know and I

6:48 think back to Andre Onana I mean he's met has made that team

6:51 defensively uh uh much much better uh um we saw that I

6:56 think if you remember in the first half that save on Sadiki

6:59 one-on-one and then on Brobby as well do a couple other half chances

7:03 but you know uh and and K you would know that much

7:07 better hailing from you know from England but you know to me Um,

7:11 if I look at Sunderland, uh,

7:15 this team reflects the city and the supporters, right?

7:19 Hardwork, working, willing to fight, willing to fight, right?

7:24 But also also willing to have a go.

7:27 This is not a team that just came up that desperately

7:31 needs to wants to save themselves in the Premier League.

7:34 We've seen so many others and I get that, right?

7:36 I mean, it's so difficult.

7:38 We've seen it recently how difficult it is for these teams to stay up.

7:41 They go up and usually they go down.

7:43 This year obviously it's going to be an exception to the rule, but you know,

7:47 uh it reflects the supporters, reflects the city and a team

7:50 that showed throughout throughout that they can play.

7:54 I mean, they've had some good results today.

7:56 I mean, uh, notwithstanding beating, uh,

7:59 Newcastle home and away, you know, that's a biggie,

8:01 but draws against City, um, City, I, you know,

8:06 Liverpool maybe as well, I think, winning away at Chelsea.

8:09 And let's not forget, uh, you know,

8:11 they've been up there early in the season in the top four,

8:14 five, and and I think that, you know,

8:17 they've missed so many players to African Cup Nations.

8:20 remember although during that period of time they didn't do it badly

8:23 but when they had the momentum they were going uh so well they had

8:27 to uh they they had to let go of number of players maybe

8:31 more than most teams in the Premier League to the African Cup of Nations.

8:34 So a great season really uh when you look at all around and headed by you know

8:39 an immense immense leader in Granite Shaka who

8:43 for me was the the player of the match.

8:46 Yeah what a brilliant leader he has been and what a great fit he's been here.

8:49 So, as we bring this to an end, as you mentioned, Janice,

8:52 you're on these so much more often than I am these days.

8:54 It's great to be back on with you,

8:56 but it seems as though Manchester United reserve their only nil nil performance

9:00 this season for me coming back on here on ESPNFC Live with you.

9:05 Is there anything else you'd like to add

9:07 before we say goodbye about what we saw today?

9:10 No, no, just uh just, you know, it's going to be interesting, you know,

9:13 in terms of uh uh uh United what they do because as I've said,

9:16 they're limited, right?

9:17 I mean, the fact that they're only playing once a week,

9:20 you know, they need so much help.

9:22 It seems everywhere, you know.

9:24 I think uh I think it's been such

9:26 a great finish to this season uh for Manchester United,

9:31 but when I look at the team right now and and look

9:34 at how much depth and quality really they still need because still,

9:38 you know, you can't imagine that they're going to be capable of of, you know,

9:43 fighting for the title.

9:45 you know, I don't even want to talk about Europe because, you know,

9:48 these days it takes a really, really special team and special squad right now.

9:52 So, it's going to be super interesting in terms of a decision

9:54 with Michael Carrick and then whenever that decision happened in how

9:59 much really uh are they going to be able to afford

10:02 to to really strengthen what I think is just about every position, right?

10:08 Because you need to be deep, you know,

10:10 too deep at the very least in most positions and that's still not there.

10:14 So, uh, job well done to turn the season around.

10:17 Uh, but so much so much work to do.

10:20 Yeah, but they still got that Paul.

10:21 It's Manchester United and having Champions League

10:23 football has got to make players think,

10:25 okay, this could be a good option for me.

10:27 Surely it could be.

10:29 It could be again that, you know,

10:32 I think the the the managerial decision is going to be important.

10:36 I like what Michael Carrick has done.

10:39 I suspect some big-time players may have some reservations, right?

10:43 I mean, Michael Carrick's still relatively

10:45 uh inexperienced and and and you know,

10:49 the the bar was so low to a degree when he came in.

10:53 Uh he saw it through, but then I suppose there's always going to be question,

10:58 is he capable of taking this team to the next next level, right?

11:03 Uh that's a big question.

11:05 I don't know if I can answer that.

11:06 I don't know if I've seen uh a let's say a special way or you

11:13 know a way that you expect from the top top teams for Michael Carrick.

11:16 I just haven't seen it.

11:18 It was just simplicity so far.

11:19 Is there another step to Michael Carrick?

11:22 Not so sure.

11:23 I think some of the top players may be thinking that way as well.