Manchester United's players, not Michael Carrick, should shoulder the blame after embarrassing loss to Chelsea

Senior players have complained about tactics and recruitment, but a self-inflicted collapse at Chelsea showed the squad only has itself to blame LONDON — Manchester United players have been at great pains in recent weeks to point out how they have been failed by the powers that be, by those with supposedly more influence than the 11 lads on the field. On occasion, you could argue they had the measure of the situation. There's just one little note for Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes and anyone else who counts themselves among the Old Trafford mutineers. If you're going to start demanding greater professional standards from your employers, you would be well advised to hold yourself to the same level.

It would be a real problem if, for instance, you earned yourself two yellow cards in the space of 210 seconds, handing your opponents the penalty from which they win the game. Sympathy will be in quite short supply for those who complain about the head coach's tactics or the sporting director's recruitment but then, when the circumstances are right, fail to exploit prime opportunities. Lisandro Martinez was right when he intimated a fortnight ago that Jason Wilcox had bungled recruitment this summer, an assessment that seemed to be supported by Amad Diallo. Bruno Fernandes had a point in Como. Michael Carrick