'APOLOGY DOESN'T MEAN A LOT': Michael Carrick brushes off Pro Ref apology for Manchester derby howler - but still believes in VAR despite latest controversy

Michael Carrick admits that receiving an apology from Pro Ref for the VAR error that cost Manchester United last weekend's Manchester derby "doesn't mean an awful lot"

Howard Webb, the head of Pro Ref, admitted the error after Erling Haaland’s winning strike was allowed to stand despite Manchester City team-mate Enzo Fernandez being in an offside position, which was overlooked by the officials at the time.

Haaland's goal was originally chalked off before a VAR review reversed the on-field decision. It was apparent at the time that those operating VAR may have made an error and an apology arrived shortly after full-time.

VAR officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have been stood down in light of the incident, which has again ignited the debate over the system. But Carrick insists he remains a believer in the technology, but the apology for last week didn't particularly resonate.

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He said: "Listen, one-off things can happen. At the time it was a pretty big one, we know that. I don't think I need to go over that. Yes, I've got faith in it, of course. It’s the system that we work towards and that we use, so the apology doesn't mean an awful lot.

"I can appreciate it and I respect them for putting their hands up and saying 'we got that wrong”' It happens. Moving forward, we just have to deal with what's thrown in front of us. Maybe we get one or two decisions on the back of how it balances out; percentages or law of averages or whatever that may be."

The loss was damning as it left United with four points from their opening four games, and since then they've made unwanted history by letting a 2-0 lead slip at Old Trafford as Brighton secured a 3-2 success in Manchester.

That defeat has seen Carrick field questions on his future this week, speculation he labelled "ridiculous", but he has urged his side to put the setback behind them with United needing to snap their losing streak.

"That was a pretty big one to take and had a huge impact on that game, and that's why it was particularly tough," he said. "It can have an impact in that moment of time – it can have a big impact – but we can't let it have an impact on the rest of the season. That's for us to get back to winning ways as soon as possible."