Michael Carrick has revealed the half-time team talk that inspired Manchester United's dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Roma at Old Trafford, including a six-word warning to his players.
United trailed 2-0 at the break after conceding twice in the opening 17 minutes, but rallied in spectacular style to secure their first win in 10 games. A Bruno Fernandes penalty and a brace from Cunha completed the turnaround on a famous European night.
Carrick's message to his players
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the 45-year-old former West Ham, Swindon Town, Birmingham City and Spurs midfielder said he wanted his players to stay positive rather than dwell on their poor first-half display.
“Half-time I was, I was wanting them to be more positive if anything, and not getting too disappointed and frustrated,” Carrick said. “The easiest thing is, when you keep trying to do something, is feeling sorry for yourself and if something goes wrong, you know, you get disappointed and... that's not going to help anybody, you know, we might as well all go home if that's the case.”
Faith in the club's history
Carrick also reminded his players of the club's tradition of memorable nights, while admitting he does not often dwell on past glories in the dressing room.
“We've got to keep looking for the next moment, the next solution . . . and I said, look, this place I – and I don't like keep talking to the lads about what this place can do in history and what's gone before them too much – but it's there,” he said.
“This place does magical, magical things. It's done it before and it'll do it, it'll do it over and over again at some point in the future because, talking about the supporters, there's just something in this place that when we do have these type of nights, we do it the hard way.”
Calm belief and Fernandes credit
Carrick said he remained calm at the interval because he sensed the players believed a comeback was possible as they left the dressing room.
He also praised Fernandes for his composure in retaking the penalty after a double-take, saying: “And I have to say, for Bruno to, to double-take that penalty and go again, that's nothing, that's not necessarily an easy place. So for him to have the mentality and finish that, he deserves a lot of credit for that.”
The win has seemingly bought Carrick extra time in his role as United boss, although the ongoing instability at the club means his position could still come under threat in the near future.
