Carrick Savours 'The Best Feeling' After Dramatic Old Trafford Victory
Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has described the sensation of winning late at Old Trafford as 'the best feeling' after his side secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham with a stoppage-time winner from substitute Benjamin Sesko.
Late Drama Seals Third Consecutive Win
The match at the Theatre of Dreams saw United establish what appeared to be a comfortable 2-0 lead through goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha. However, Fulham staged a remarkable late comeback, with Raul Jimenez converting an 85th-minute penalty before Kevin Mbabu curled in a superb equaliser during the first minute of added time.
Just as it seemed United had squandered their advantage, Sesko emerged as the hero, striking decisively in the dying moments to secure all three points. This victory marks United's third consecutive win under Carrick's interim leadership, propelling them back into the Premier League's coveted top four positions.
Carrick's Emotional Reaction to 'Fergie Time' Winner
Speaking after the match, Carrick expressed his elation at experiencing what he fondly remembers as 'Fergie time' from his playing days. 'It's the best feeling I have to say,' the interim boss revealed. 'Some of the best moments I've been part of here, you can dissect performances and there are plusses and not, and then you get a moment of elation and excitement like that.'
Carrick emphasised the unique atmosphere created by such dramatic conclusions at Old Trafford, particularly in front of the Stretford End. 'For me there's no better place than in front of the Stretford End like that. It ends up meaning more. People leave here with more than just, 'United won today' – it's layers on top of that, the emotion and the feeling and it's why we all love it so much.'
Character Shines Through Despite Defensive Lapses
The United manager acknowledged that his team still has significant areas for improvement, particularly after allowing Fulham back into the contest during the closing stages. However, he praised the remarkable character displayed by his players following what he described as a 'huge setback' in the 90th minute.
'The character we showed after a big setback, a huge setback, in the 90th minute, to do that coming off what we did last week off a setback is probably the most pleasing thing,' Carrick explained, referencing their previous 3-2 victory at Arsenal. 'To keep the belief, to keep the confidence. We can play better and that's probably the most pleasing thing.'
Carrick concluded by emphasising that while aspects of their performance require refinement, the players' unwavering belief proved decisive. 'The rest of the game, we can play better, we can do a lot of things better in certain moments but I can't fault the players' belief. It's taken us through today and it's a good feeling when it does.'
Controversial VAR Decision Sparks Fulham Fury
The match was not without controversy, with Fulham manager Marco Silva expressing significant frustration over the VAR decision that led to United's opening goal. Referee John Brooks initially awarded a penalty after Matheus Cunha went down under Jorge Cuenca's challenge, but replays showed Cuenca had cleanly won the ball.
Rather than overturning the decision entirely, VAR intervened to indicate that United should instead receive a free-kick on the touchline. The explanation provided suggested that Brooks had actually penalised a separate pulling incident that occurred outside the penalty area.
Silva was left incensed by what he perceived as inconsistent officiating. 'The penalty was given – it was a bad, bad, bad decision from John Brooks,' the Fulham boss stated emphatically. 'The penalty was given for the tackle of Cuenca, that was clear, then after they found the pull three, four seconds before.'
The Portuguese manager highlighted the unusual nature of the decision-making process. 'It's the first time this season that a penalty has been given for one incident and then a VAR decision comes from a completely different incident and gave a free-kick. It's the first time we have seen that this season, last season, but maybe it comes more in the future.'
Despite the controversy, United's dramatic victory provides further momentum for Carrick's interim tenure, with the team demonstrating both resilience and attacking potency during this crucial phase of the Premier League season.
