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Manchester United began their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 defeat against Wrexham at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Smith’s goal just before half-time proved decisive, separating the Premier League giants from the Championship side.

Following the match, United manager Michael Carrick chose to focus on the positives, particularly highlighting the contributions of Jacob Devaney and Tyler Fletcher.

Devaney, aged 19, spent the latter part of last season on loan with Scottish Premiership club St. Mirren. Although naturally a midfielder, the youngster was deployed in defence after being introduced as a substitute for the second half — a switch that left Carrick highly impressed.

Speaking to MUTV, as reported by The Manchester Evening News, Carrick said: “I was really pleased with the second-half team. I thought they controlled the game very well against a side that’s tough to play against and makes you work for everything. They can also go long when needed.”

He continued, “Overall, the boys took responsibility and showed their quality. It’s always tricky in pre-season to find that sharpness when trying to break down a compact side, but they can be proud of their efforts.”

On Devaney’s display, Carrick added: “JD playing at centre-half—it’s not his natural position. He’s done it a few times, but not often, and I thought he performed excellently. He had a really good spell in Scotland, and it’s great to see him taking the next step. You could see his confidence and composure, even in an unfamiliar role. He was vocal, commanding, and I liked a lot of what he did out there.”

Like Devaney, 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher also came on as a second-half substitute. A midfielder by trade, the son of former Manchester United and Scotland star Darren Fletcher captained the Red Devils during the second 45 minutes.

Carrick praised the youngster, saying: “He’s had a busy three or four months. He had a short break after the World Cup but didn’t want too much time off. He was eager to get back into it and, again, he came on and took responsibility.”

Despite the defeat, Carrick’s comments suggested optimism about United’s emerging talents, with both Devaney and Fletcher showing maturity and adaptability beyond their years as the club continues its pre-season preparations.