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Why Man Utd’s Roma comeback has echoes of Mourinho and Solskjaer
Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League, ending a run of nine games without a win and easing pressure on head coach Michael Carrick. The result lifted the mood at Old Trafford, but Carrick cautioned against reading too much into one victory.
The article compares the comeback with similar 3-2 wins under José Mourinho against Newcastle in 2018 and Ole Gunnar Solskjær against Atalanta in 2021. Neither manager was dismissed immediately after those wins: Mourinho left about ten weeks later after a loss to Liverpool, while Solskjær departed three weeks after a 5-0 defeat by Liverpool. United’s league position remains precarious, with the team potentially bottom before Sunday’s match against Aston Villa.
In short
- United ended a nine-game winless run with a 3-2 comeback.
- The result recalls similar wins under Mourinho and Solskjær.
- Carrick’s longer-term position remains uncertain.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The comeback could be seen as evidence that Carrick can steady the team: United showed resilience, improved the mood and ended a long winless run. Past comebacks under Mourinho and Solskjær did not make their later departures inevitable, so it is reasonable to treat this victory as a potentially useful turning point while judging Carrick on what follows.
The case against
One win may offer little evidence that United’s deeper problems have been resolved, particularly with the league position still precarious. The echoes of Mourinho’s and Solskjær’s comebacks suggest that a dramatic result can briefly lift spirits without changing the wider trajectory, so caution about its significance is warranted.
Explained simply
Manchester United are one of England’s best-known football clubs, based at Old Trafford in Manchester. The club competes in the Premier League and, when it qualifies, European competitions such as the Champions League, which brings together leading teams from across Europe.
José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær are former United managers; Michael Carrick is the current head coach. Results can shape confidence in a manager, but a single win does not settle questions about a team’s wider form or its position in the league.
The comparisons matter because United have had dramatic wins during other difficult spells, followed later by changes of manager. Looking at those episodes gives context to debate about Carrick and the club’s direction.