- Published
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.
asserted
Fernandes → publish → 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.
asserted
retake → celebrate → 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.
asserted
Cunha → keep → minutes
Even without the context of everything that came before the game, it was the most improbable of comebacks.
asserted
it → come → 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.
asserted
which → ensure → weeks
How did Carrick feel when the penalty was saved?
asserted
penalty → feel → ?
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?
asserted
who → say → Prime
"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.
asserted
Solskjaer → know → years
"At half-time, I told the players it was probably going to be the last time we worked together.
asserted
we → tell → players
They went on to lose 4-1.
asserted
They → go → ?
Despite the bleakness of the situation, Carrick clearly has a more positive mindset.
asserted
Carrick → have → mindset
"At half-time, I was wanting them to be more positive if anything, and not get too disappointed and frustrated," said Carrick.
asserted
Carrick → want → time
"The easiest thing is when you keep trying to do something is feeling sorry for yourself.
asserted
keep → keep → yourself
If something goes wrong, you get disappointed.
asserted
you → go → ?
That's not going to help anybody.
asserted
That → go → anybody
We might as well all go home if that's the case.
uncertain
that → go → ?
We've got to keep looking for the next moment, the next solution.
asserted
We → get → moment
"I don't like to keep talking to the lads about what this place can do and the history and what's gone before too much, but it
asserted
what → like → what
"This place does magical things, it's done it before and it'll do it over and over again at some point in the future.
asserted
it → do → future
There's just something in this place that when we do have these types of nights, we do it the hard way.
asserted
we → be → it
"But one moment can flip the whole place in a different direction.
asserted
moment → flip → direction
I spoke about that with the boys.
asserted
I → speak → boys
Let's have one moment that can trigger it.
asserted
that → let → it
And we had that."
asserted
we → have → that
Rooney, who was almost pleading with United's players to "show some passion and desire" after a "nothing" first half, could only praise Carrick at the end.
uncertain
who → plead → end
"I think Michael Carrick deserves a lot of credit," said Rooney, "because if you were in his shoes you are thinking how can I change this around?
asserted
I → think → this
Whatever he said to the team at half-time, that got them on the front foot and got that belief in them that they could win the game."
Carrick refused to be downcast - even when Fernandes missed that first penalty.
uncertain
Fernandes → say → penalty
"I didn't chuckle, I didn't smile, I wasn't happy about it," he said.
asserted
he → chuckle → it
"But it felt almost like 'there's another moment'.
asserted
it → feel → ?
"But at the same time, I was quite calm because I had a feeling the boys were in a place leaving the changing room that they felt something could happen.
"
uncertain
something → have → room
I have to say, for Bruno to double take that penalty - to have the mentality and finish like that - he deserves a lot of credit."
One great comeback - but what happens now?
While United's victory was certainly well received, it will not mask wider issues.
'Green and gold' protests against the ownership took place before kick-off and during a first-half when the home side were abysmal.
asserted
side → have → half
Chants against the Glazer family, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and director of football Jason Wilcox will not stop just because of this victory, no matter how thrilling.
asserted
Chants → stop → victory
The sober assessment should also recall United came from behind to beat Atalanta 3-2 at Old Trafford during Solskjaer's time.
asserted
United → recall → time
They lost 5-0 at home to Liverpool four days later.
asserted
They → lose → Liverpool
Within a month, the Norwegian had been sacked.
asserted
Norwegian → sack → month
United trailed 2-0 after 10 minutes but fought back to win.
asserted
United → trail → minutes
Mourinho lasted 13 more games.
asserted
Mourinho → last → ?
No-one can know how much time Carrick has bought himself with this victory.
asserted
Carrick → know → victory
"I don't have a crystal ball to know what happens next," he told Amazon Prime.
asserted
he → have → Prime
"We move on to the weekend.
asserted
We → move → weekend
…and 28 more, not listed.
The Aporia
