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From embarrassment to the Man United of old – Michael Carrick saves his job, for now...
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- From embarrassment to the Man United of old – Michael Carrick saves his job, for now...
Michael Carrick may still need a greater comeback than this if he is to taste another Champions League night at Old Trafford. But if this proves to be the last, what a way to go. The romantic in Carrick remembers what Manchester United used to be, the days that seemed to be consigned to the past. Suddenly, salvation came from the United of old.
When it seemed Carrick's job was untenable, there was an extraordinary fightback, a victory plucked from the jaws of defeat , a strange kind of glory from complete ignominy. The crowd who had reacted to the award of a penalty by calling for the Glazer family to go ended up galvanised and roused, cheering a team who had been an absolute embarrassment for 45 minutes to a victory few saw coming, chorusing Carrick's name.
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He has a lifeline. "He needed that win tonight, the club needed that win, the players needed that win," said the captain Bruno Fernandes . After 54 days without a victory, everyone did. "Big character, big fight," said Youri Tielemans. "It's unbelievable, really," said Kobbie Mainoo.
Man United fans were booing and throwing tennis balls on the pitch in protest during the first half (Getty)
But they were celebrating the most remarkable of comebacks by the end (Getty)
United were both unbelievably and believably bad at the start. It defied credibility when they emerged as victors.
Carrick had said he knew it sounded crazy when he said he was looking forward to this game. By half-time, his optimism appeared delusional. But now and again, even when they are at their lowest ebb for decades, United can justify the faith.
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Carrick had talked on Monday about a magical night against Roma . That was 20 seasons ago, when United destroyed them 7-1. Fast forward from 2007 to 2026 and, out of nowhere, this version of United stumbled across something wondrous of their own. "This place can do magical things," said Carrick, attributing it to the power of Old Trafford. It was as good an explanation as any.
Michael Carrick saved his job (PA)
Roma could be forgiven for wondering what happened, if they are cursed on this ground. Two goals to the good, they almost made it three on the stroke of half-time. Gian Piero Gasperini's side were showing it was possible to play dynamic attacking football and produce a coherent team in a 3-4-3 formation at Old Trafford, something Ruben Amorim never accomplished despite his best efforts.
Roma's first win in England in 17 attempts and 25 years appeared a certainty. Instead, they departed defeated, taking regrets for eternity back to the eternal city. Overwhelmed by a Real Madrid fightback in the last 10 minutes two months ago, they suffered again in a strange sequel.
Roma were left stunned by the end of the match (Getty)
The catalysts for the comeback were Fernandes and Matheus Cunha. The Portuguese scored one goal and made another, showing why Carrick had to restore him to the team after his post-match criticisms of the manager in Italy. The Brazilian had a part in the first goal, scored the equaliser, then the winner and still had time to collect a red card.
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Booked for celebrating his goal in the crowd, Cunha was sent off in injury time, sliding recklessly into Leonardo Balerdi. He is out of United's trip to Lisbon to face Sporting in three weeks' time.
Victory came at another cost: Carlos Baleba had appeared the first United player to sprint all game when he burst through on goal just after half-time but pulled up holding his hamstring and went off in tears. He presumably will not be seen again until December.
Carlos Baleba pulled up holding his hamstring (Getty)
So he went off before the game was transformed. If Carrick has been luckless of late, United may have had twin strokes of fortune. They were awarded a penalty, with Gianluca Mancini deemed to have fouled Cunha, and then a retake after Roma's third-choice goalkeeper Devis Vazquez saved from Fernandes but Bryan Cristante was punished for encroachment. The United captain's aim was surer the second time around and he ended his own goal drought, which dated back almost two months.
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There was almost an instant equaliser. Cunha released Bryan Mbeumo with a wonderful pass and the Cameroonian's shot hit both posts but did not cross the line. As Old Trafford rediscovered energy and excitement, Diogo Dalot had a header cleared off the line by Cristante.
Then Cunha doubled his tally of goals for the season within the space of four minutes. When Fernandes crossed, Balerdi inexplicably missed his kick and Cunha slotted in. Shortly after, he whipped in a sumptuous shot off the near post to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Matheus Cunha completed the incredible turnaround (Getty)
"Matheus can do them things," said Carrick, vaguely. The manager had played his part, too: bringing on Shea Lacey added a threat on the right flank, swapping Cunha and Mbeumo at half-time worked.
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And so United's nine-game run without a win was ended. A second victory in the Champions League this season reduces the chance they will fail to even get a top-24 finish. Yet when the Stretford End threw tennis balls on to the pitch in protest, it was tempting to think that, given United's problems with football, they were merely seeing if they could fare better with something else.
To begin with, United had surged into a two-goal deficit, conceding twice in the space of eight minutes. It was the earliest any visiting side had ever scored twice at Old Trafford in Europe.
The lack of an alternative left-back has been damaging since Luke Shaw was injured. It was a factor in Roma's swift double. Preferred to the dropped Lisandro Martinez, Ayden Heaven's recall swiftly turned hellish. Dalot was dismal, even by his own standards
United were hopeless defensively in the first half (Getty)
When Rodrigo Mora swept a cross-field ball and a jumping Heaven only succeeded in heading thin air, Dalot was caught upfield, allowing an unmarked Matias Soule to sweep in a low shot. Remarkably, Dalot was out of position again, allowing Soule room behind him, when the Argentinian's shot hit Heaven's arm.
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Donyell Malen converted the penalty. It was his 12th goal in 13 games. There was almost a 13th, when Senne Lammens made a fine save after the Red Devils' defence parted like the Red Sea. Forever unmarked, Soule then curled a shot just wide.
Roma could have finished United, and perhaps Carrick, off. Instead, he has a reprieve. "I don't have a crystal ball to know what happens next," he said. But whether with a crystal ball, a tennis ball or a football, this was hard to predict.
