Cunha double completes vital comeback win for Carrick and United

Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha was sent-off after collecting his second yellow card for a foul on Leonardo Balerdi in added time but United held on for a much-needed victory and morale boost.

Matheus Cunha of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s third goal. Pic: Carl Recine/Getty Images

Manchester United 3 AS Roma 2

Michael Carrick could never be accused of not talking a good game. 

As he prepared for the first of two matches likely to decide whether or not he remains their manager, the former Manchester United midfielder made it seem as if the squad set to face AS Roma was the second coming of the side which struck fear into opponents under Alex Ferguson.

The only trouble is - or should that be ‘was’? - football is decided on pitches rather than inside press conference rooms. 

And results, leading-up to this meeting against Gian Piero Gasperini’s formidable-looking team, did not corroborate his claim that the “dressing room is a good place” or that the “commitment” of his players can not be questioned.

For nearly an hour, Carrick was in danger of sounding completely delusional. Devoid of calibre, confidence and bereft of ideas, United were awful and utterly out-classed as Matias Soule and Donyell Malen put Roma in control.

He will have finished the evening feeling vindicated and justified, after Matheus Cunha’s brace completed a remarkable turnaround.

But the final outcome - and, admittedly, the character United showed to claw themselves back from the brink - must not be allowed to disguise their numerous flaws. 

And neither, as Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann continue to be linked with Carrick’s job, should the fact a change in the technical area is unlikely to be a panacea for United’s many problems.

The strategy Carrick initially devised to try and combat the threat Gasperini’s men posed, was neither fit for purpose nor suited to the options at his disposal. 

Tasked with marshalling the dangerous Matias Soule, Diogo Dalot spent most of the first-half loitering aimlessly on the halfway line. Harry Maguire, whose many qualities do not extend to a searing turn of pace, kept wandering even higher.

Telling, as he sloped along the touchline to clear his head during the interval, Carrick did not receive the unanimous backing of supporters in the stands.

But others must also be held culpable for the situation United, ending a run of nine outings without a win, find themselves in.  

Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox have all presided over a period of dramatically declining standards. United’s recruitment has been as woeful as their attempts at joined-up thinking. When, for example, did a new signing actually improve under their watch? 

Malen, who doubled Roma’s advantage before Bruno Fernandes handed United a lifeline they gratefully grasped, has taken huge strides forwards after swapping Aston Villa for the Stadio Olimpico.

Carrick’s refusal to publicly condemn what has been a series of inexcusable performances has prompted some observers to wonder if he is too nice or too wounded to command authority behind the scenes. 

The decision to drop Lisandro Martinez, who despite being sent-off against Chelsea three days earlier was eligible for selection against the Italians, went some way towards answering those questions about his authority. 

But Fernandes’ presence at the apex of a midfield also containing Kobbie Mainoo, having publicly criticised the 45-year-old’s tactics following last month’s evisceration by Como, will have disappointed those yearning for others to shoulder some responsibility.

They did, during the closing stages, as Cunha discovered his rhythm. The challenge now is to replicate the same spirit in the Premier League.

Although Martinez’s ill-discipline has been inexcusable, his experience was sorely missed as United imploded during the opening 20 minutes. 

With Fernandes also behaving like a petulant child following a spat with Soule, the decision to indulge his ego appearing more misguided by the day, this ragged, disorganised and utterly disillusioned bunch could count themselves fortunate to be only two down midway through the first-half.

Fernandes’ compatriot Dalot went missing in action for Roma’s opener, which saw Soule convert after being found by Rodrigo Mora. 

Ayden Heaven, drafted-in to deputise for Martinez at the heart of United’s defence, was still wondering how the Argentine had escaped his notice to arrive unmarked in the box, when he handled the ball attempting to block another Soule shot. 

Malen duly netted his 12th of the campaign from the penalty spot.

Roma should have been out of sight by the time Fernandes handed United a lifeline. In fact, they were so superior during the first-half that the carelessness which crept into their work during the second period was almost excusable.

To United’s credit, they did wrestle back the momentum when Fernandes converted - albeit after seeing his initial effort saved by debutant Devis Vasquez - at the second attempt. Cunha was perhaps a shade fortunate to get the decision after tangling with Gianluca Mancini. 

Fernandes certainly was when, having missed from 12 yards out, he was granted a second attempt to convert when the officials spotted at least two Roma players had encroached into the box.

Cunha seized upon a rare Roma error at the back to restore parity before emphatically firing home past Vasquez at the near post. The Brazilian was sent-off after collecting his second yellow card for a foul on Leonardo Balerdi in added time but United held on.

Manchester United: S Lammens 6; D Dalot 4, A Heaven 4 (L Martinez 75, 5), H Maguire 6 (M de Ligt 88), L Yoro 5; C Baleba 5 (Y Tielemans 51, 6); M Cunha 6, B Fernandes 5 (M Mount 88), A Diallo 5 (S Lacey 75, 6); B Mbeumo 6. 

Roma: D Vasquez 6; M Hermoso 6 (E Ndicka 76), L Balerdi 6, G Mancini 6 (D Ghilardi 75); Wesley 7, M de Roon 7, B Cristante 7, D Rensch 5 (E Lulli 21, 6); M Soule 7, R Mora 7 (N Pisilli 46, 6); D Malen 7 (S Castro 78). 

Referee: J Manzano.