A half-time speech, a retaken penalty

At 2-0 down Michael Carrick’s position as Manchester United head coach looked terminal – but will the win over Roma prove a turning point? A half-time speech, a retaken penalty – and a win to save Carrick’s job? Image source, Getty Images By Simon Stone Manchester United reporter at Old Trafford Published 5 hours ago We cannot know how important Bryan Cristante’s foot touching the Roma penalty area as Bruno Fernandes took his initial spot-kick at Old Trafford will prove to be for Michael Carrick.

In the moment, as the Roma fans celebrated, and Manchester United trailed 2-0, it seemed catastrophic for the club and terminal for Carrick’s position as head coach. But the video assistant referee (VAR) Carlos del Cerro Grande stepped in, advised a retake was required – and at the very least changed the course of the night. Fernandes kept his nerve to drive home his second attempt and then, in a frenzied atmosphere, Matheus Cunha scored twice in the final seven minutes.

Even without the context of everything that came before the game, it was the most improbable of comebacks. Even Cunha’s sending off soon after, which ensured a nervy ending, would not deny United a first win in 10, bringing some respite after a dreadful few weeks. How did Carrick feel when the penalty was saved?

And what did he say at half-time in response to a desperate first-half display that brought condemnation from legendary United figures Wayne Rooney and Nicky Butt, who were covering the game for Amazon Prime?