Paul Merson says Michael Carrick needs Bruno Fernandes and challenged Matheus Cunha to find more consistency after Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Roma.
United showed plenty of character to recover from two goals down in the Champions League on Tuesday to claim their first win in 10 games, but Merson believes the result should not hide the problems that remain under Carrick.
Merson also questioned whether United could carry that momentum into Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa. Live on Sky Sports.
Sunday, November 8 at 4:00 p.m
It starts at 4:30 p.m
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Sky Sports’ Danyal Khan highlights three positives Michael Carrick can take from his stunning comeback victory over AS Roma in the Champions League.
“You need Bruno on your side”
“I think Bruno Fernandes should play for Manchester United. He is their best player and when you are going through a difficult period you need your best players on the pitch.
“It takes a lot to miss a penalty, then find the courage to step up and score again. The pressure was on him, so fair play.
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Michael Dawson commented on Bruno Fernandes’ penalty kick against Manchester United in the Champions League match against Roma.
“I know he was left out against Roma, but I don’t think you can keep leaving him out. He’s not playing particularly well, but he’s still in Manchester United’s team. They haven’t found a better player than him.
“You couldn’t keep cutting off her nose to spite her face. You should be there for her.
“Brian Clough always said, when times are tough, go back to putting the best team on the field. Put it in your drawer and when things don’t go well, go back to that team.
That’s what United have to do. Bruno should be in it. As long as he plays well, they will always have a chance to win.
“But I still think they need to become more of a 90-minute team. They played very well in the first half against Chelsea on Saturday, they did well in the second half against Roma, but you don’t win many football matches playing like that.
“We need 70 or 75 minutes of good football, not 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there.”
Cunha can’t be nine one week and four the next
“Matheus Cunha is a passionate player and that’s what I like about him, but I said something in my column the other day about his performances. He’s nine or four years old.
“At Wolves he could be nine one week and they could win a football match. The next week he could be four and they wouldn’t win. That’s the nature of being at a club struggling down the table.
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Michael Dawson reflects on Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Roma in the Champions League
“But this is Manchester United. When you play at a club of this size, you have to be seven or seven-and-a-half every week. You can be eight, you can be nine, but you can’t be nine one week and four the next.
“That’s the difference when you go to a big football club. These teams have to win week after week. They can’t rely on great performances every few weeks.
“Kunya might not have been used to that expectation at Wolves, but that comes with playing at Manchester United.
“Look at Carlos Baleba. He’s just arrived and it was embarrassing to see him pull his knee. But he said: “When I was at Brighton and we lost, nobody said a word. “Now I’m at Manchester United, they lose to one of the best teams and we’re destroyed after the game.”
“This is the environment you play in. You are at one of the biggest football clubs in the world and the standards have to reflect that.”
Roma’s comeback was botched – but United got lucky
“You have to live in the moment and it was an incredible comeback from Manchester United.
“Being 2-0 down, given the run they went on, it would have been difficult to get those players back on the pitch in the second half. So I give them a lot of credit.
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Jamie O’Hara believes Manchester United have not reached a turning point despite a 3-2 comeback win against Roma in the Champions League.
“They showed a lot of bottles, but they got lucky.
“Bruno gets a chance to convert the penalty. If they don’t get that decision, do they go back into the game? Roma then make a mistake at the back, give the ball away. You shouldn’t do that at this level.
“I don’t see a goalkeeper in the Premier League who let it go to the near post for the winning goal.
“So, yes, credit where credit is due. It was a brilliant comeback and it could be a game-changing result for their season. But I don’t think you can look at that performance and say it’s all changed.
“I feel sorry for Michael Carrick. I don’t think he’s the players.”
Villa will have a reality check on Sunday
“I don’t see the Roma result as a turnaround for Manchester United. I think it’s a start, but to be honest I don’t see them taking anything away from Aston Villa on Sunday.
“Villa weren’t great against Barcelona but they are playing a better standard of football at the moment.
“I think Roma have covered up the cracks. It’s not like they completely destroyed Roma. They’re back there as a result of bad luck.
“I’m more interested in Manchester United this weekend.”
Manchester United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm.