Kobbie Mainoo was the real star of Manchester United's sensational 3-2 comeback win against Roma, despite Matheus Cunha grabbing the headlines with a brace and a red card.
Cunha's calm finish for the equaliser and ruthless blast home were eye-catching, as was his shirt-ripping-off celebration and leap into the Old Trafford faithful. His wild lunge minutes later and the red card that followed added to the drama. Captain Bruno Fernandes also played a decent hand by finally slotting home his penalty to kick-start the United revival.
But the real star was Mainoo. Along with his colleagues, he had a lacklustre first half, but he returned with a vengeance in the second half.
Mainoo's second-half impact
His close control in a packed midfield is a given, but in the second half against Roma it was his surging runs forward that made the difference by opening up space for others. In that second half, he produced 15 passes into the final third, including a key one and an on-target shot. The 21-year-old completed three dribbles and made as many progressive carries.
He was equally effective off the ball, pressing relentlessly and recovering the ball 12 times. The United No.37 worked his socks off as the team pressed from the front. He also won seven of his ground duels and completed one clearance and an interception.
Carrick's injury luck
Michael Carrick has once again been unlucky this season. Mainoo started the season with an injury, despite somehow not setting foot on the turf for England in the World Cup. He finally looked up to speed in United's one Premier League win so far against Ipswich at Old Trafford in August, and then he got injured straight away again.
He came on as a sub in the defeat against Chelsea, so it was great to see him start Tuesday's Champions League game. He has to be the first name on the team sheet when he is fit. He has become that important to United's fortunes, and the stats back it up: United have lost just twice when Mainoo has started under Carrick.
Growing into a leader
His efforts were all the more impressive considering United were forced to complete the comeback without star midfield signing Carlos Baleba, after the Cameroon international suffered a hamstring injury in the opening seconds of the second half.
It is mad to think that 12 months ago there were conversations about Mainoo leaving the club because he couldn't get any minutes under Ruben Amorim, and the board were willing to sanction it. Now, Mainoo is growing into his role as a leader on and off the pitch.
As a Stockport-born academy product, he lives and breathes the club. He was hurting in the pre-match conference ahead of the Roma game on Monday, giving curt, short answers to reporter questions as pressure was cranked up on his boss beside him. After United's amazing 3-2 comeback win, a Kobbie smile was finally back. Wrap him in cotton wool, Michael Carrick, as he is your prize asset to drive a United recovery.
