"Definitely" - Michael Carrick's Leeds United admission in Man United draw verdict and pre-match Whites chat

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on the 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Michael Carrick served up more praise for Leeds United in his Roses derby draw verdict as he saluted a commitment from his side and details of a pre-match rivalry talk.

Carrick’s side went into Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash at Elland Road having gone five games without a victory, Leeds made favourites for the contest after their own strong start to their second season back in the Premier League.

The Red Devils, though, went ahead in the 35th minute as Bryan Mbeumo converted a cross from Youri Tielemans and Carrick’s side took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Leeds then equalised just six minutes into the second half as Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted from close range after Tarik Muharemovic’s knock down of an Anton Stach corner, Calvert-Lewin’s goal turning up the noise levels as the Whites pushed for a winner.

The Red Devils themselves though also had their forays forward in a contest that ultimately ended one apiece.

Speaking at his post match press conference, Carrick revealed that he had spoken to his players about what playing Leeds meant to the club and supporters as he saluted a reaction from his team that he was most definitely needed coming to Elland Road.

In more praise for the Whites, the Red Devils boss spoke of the test that he admitted “definitely” awaits any side coming to Elland Road who are “not quite there”.

Carrick said: “There was definitely that commitment there. It had to be there today. I said it the other day, I didn't doubt that, I could feel it.

"The last couple of days has been as good around the group and the feeling and the way the boys have gone about it as we've had for quite some time really and I was looking forward to the game today to see that.

"There was definitely an edge with the game, there was an intensity with the game.

"I spoke to the boys a little bit this morning about what the game is, the history and what it means to the supporters, to the football club, to us coming over here into the territory, to kind of what it takes to win here and get a result.

"It definitely tests you if you come here and you're not quite there, it tests you what you're going to bring.

"It wasn't the perfect performance, it wasn't an almost unbelievable performance, but there was definitely a lot in there that you can show that how together the group were and how determined they were to get something today."

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