Michael Carrick admits Manchester United are struggling to find ways to break teams down

United have drawn 10 of their 20-game unbeaten run

Carrick insists the performances are not the problem

Michael Carrick has admitted Manchester United have not been good enough this season after a ninth home draw saw the club facing an uphill battle to secure a top four place.

Back-to-back draws with West Brom and Everton over the last week has left Jose Mourinho admitting the Red Devils’ best hope of securing Champions League football next season may be by winning the Europa League.

United were a minute away from losing their unbeaten run against Everton – which has now extended to 20 games – until Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an injury-time penalty, but 10 of those results have been draws.

Mourinho has bemoaned bad luck with United hitting the woodwork more often than any other team this season, but Carrick has insisted that they just have not been up to scratch so far.

“I see it as two points dropped,” Carrick said, talking about the Everton draw. “It's not easy when it's not going well, especially after Saturday, but the boys kept trying.

“They kept going and kept going and obviously gave us that goal to give us the point. It's a point but it's nowhere near enough.

“You can't give up on anything and results can go funny ways sometimes.

“We're obviously giving ourselves the tougher task, but we're not giving up.”

Arsenal’s win over West Ham saw United drop back to sixth place and seven points off Manchester City in fourth, although they do have a game in hand over most of their rivals.

Carrick believes United must improve but it won't be a quick fix (Getty)

United’s goal tally at Old Trafford makes for pitiful reading with their 21 strikes less than that managed by relegation candidates Hull and Swansea.

“We just can't find a way to find that first goal and to break teams down and make it easier for us,” Carrick told MUTV.

“Obviously, it's something you look at and you try to improve on and it's not just an easy thing you can try and just switch on. I'm sure we'll get there. I'm sure we'll improve.

“Generally, the performances have been very good at home. I think it probably wasn't so good (on Tuesday night) but I thought the lads showed character to keep trying things.

“In the end, we got a goal but, yes, it's not enough.”