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? In that moment, there was even a sense of deja vu.
"I knew at half-time against Watford," recalled Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in September 2023 of his own dismissal as United boss a couple of years earlier. "At half-time, I told the players it was probably going to be the last time we worked together." United were two goals down at Vicarage Road at half-time that day. Carrick was on the bench as one of Solskjaer's coaches.
They went on to lose 4-1. We don't need to save anyone's job, says Man Utd captain Fernandes Man Utd beat Roma - the other great Champions League comebacks Man Utd produce incredible second-half comeback to beat Roma Despite the bleakness of the situation, Carrick clearly has a more positive mindset. "At half-time, I was wanting them to be more positive if anything, and not get too disappointed and frustrated," said Carrick.
"The easiest thing is when you keep trying to do something is feeling sorry for yourself. If something goes wrong, you get disappointed. That's not going to help anybody.
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