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Man Utd 3-2 Roma Five Things Learnt: Star Must Play More Minutes As Emphatic Comeback Complete
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- Man Utd 3-2 Roma Five Things Learnt: Star Must Play More Minutes As Emphatic Comeback Complete
Manchester United ended their barren nine-game winless streak with an emphatic 3-2 comeback against Roma in the Champions League.
Roma took the lead inside 11 minutes when Rodrigo Mora played a brilliant ball over the top for Matias Soule, who was unmarked with acres of space to run into and slotted the ball past Senne Lammens with ease.
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Six minutes later, Roma doubled their lead thanks to Donyell Malen firing home a penalty after an Ayden Heaven handball.
Just before the hour mark, Michael Carrick's side were awarded a penalty after Gianluca Mancini brought down Matheus Cunha. The initial penalty by Bruno Fernandes was saved by Devis Vasquez, but the penalty was retaken due to encroachment, and the United captain made no mistake the second time round.
United then dominated proceedings and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 83rd minute after Bruno Fernandes whipped a ball into the box that was not cleared by Leonardi Balerdi and was tapped in by Cunha.
Moments later, thanks to brilliant vision by substitute Shea Lacey to unlock the Roma defence and find Cunha, who fired the ball past the keeper at the near post to complete the comeback for the Red Devils.
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#1 - A team divided in the first-half
Even in some of the darkest moments of Manchester United's recent history, there has always been a sense that the players were fighting for each other if nothing else. But the first half was one of the worst in modern history, which feels like a statement made after every game this season.
United were second to almost every ball. The likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad and Fernandes were not on the same wavelength, with a lack of movement or awareness to chase balls. From both goals to other opportunities they had in the game, it felt as though Roma had everything handed to them from United mistakes without forcing the errors.
Particularly today, there were moments where it felt like there was no system and just individuals trying to save themselves. From small moments, like players taking the ball off each other, to players being completely out of position, there was no cohesion at all.
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It took until the retaken penalty that Fernandes scored to rejuvenate the side, and Manchester United looked like a proper team once again, which then begs yet another question. Where was this in the first half?
Man Utd Player Ratings vs Roma, 9/10 Phenomenon Wins It For Michael Carrick (Champions League)
#2 - Lacey needs more minutes
It would be wrong to say Lacey to start every game given the recent track record of piling pressure onto Manchester United academy prospects and watching them crumble, but the Englishman more than impressed with his cameo today.
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The crowd was crying out for an energetic player to take on players and take positive risks, which unfortunately Amad could not provide today. But Lacey brought just that. Immediately with his first actions he tried to take on the full-backs and cross the ball to make opportunities.
Ultimately, his hard work was rewarded with an excellent pass threaded through to Cunha, which led to the winner. This cameo has shown how he deserves to be getting more minutes like these against tired legs off the bench at the very least.
He has the x-factor and, more importantly, the confidence to take positive risks that players were not doing in recent times.
#3 - Shackles came off in the second-half.
Manchester United did what the club have historically always done best, and that was attack with numbers and speed. But not just that, there was an intensity about the way the side pressed and a confidence on the ball to try to make things happen that was completely lacking all season, let alone in the first half.
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Players were hunting down the ball in packs to limit the space for Roma to play in rather than pressing in isolation and allowing the Italians to pass it through us with ease. It was this increased intensity and seemingly desire to win the ball that brought the crowd back on their side.
It was not an obvious tactical change that led to the comeback. It was the desire to be on the front foot and actually create opportunities to test the goalkeeper, which was non-existent in the first half. United created their own luck in the second half by piling consistent pressure onto Roma that they could not handle.
Confidence is a powerful thing, and you could argue that had Cunha had those opportunities in the first half, he may not have scored. Hopefully, the manner of the win can act as a springboard for the club going forward.
#4 - Dalot needs time away from the eleven
Given the recent run of performances, Diogo Dalot needs to be dropped for his own sake, let alone for the sake of Manchester United . The lack of confidence he has now can be seen in every action. Ultimately, he is a human, and the amount of criticism that is coming his way is going to affect anyone.
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Perhaps the most damning moment was his positioning for both goals. While this could certainly be a tactical decision to have Dalot high up like a winger, the Portuguese international was nowhere to be seen.
Even for the second goal, which was a penalty, he made the same mistake of being caught nowhere near Soule, and eventually it was his shot that led to the handball from Heaven. It's a common theme that, among other errors from other players, the full-back is at the scene of the crime.
Left-back is not his natural position, and it is not his fault the squad was not adequately built to deal with left-back injuries. But whether it is on the right or the left, he has not performed, yet still gets picked. Is it time for Harry Amass to have an opportunity?
#5 - Mainoo is the rock.
Despite giving the ball away before the first goal, Kobbie was one of the most influential players on the pitch both in the first half and then in the second half. He always demands the ball and tries to drive the team up the pitch no matter what.
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There were two specific moments when three Roma players at a time would swamp the Englishman, and he would manipulate the ball to weave himself out of danger, which then gave acres of space for himself and his teammates to exploit.
Out of possession too, he led the charge in the second half to be on the front foot and in the end recorded three tackles and 12 recoveries, which shows how vital Mainoo is for Manchester United.
