Sportsupdated 51m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 31 March 2026Bruno Fernandes Says Manchester United Didn’t Need To Save Anyone’s Job After Beating Roma 3-2
“This doesn't represent a turnaround under Carrick”
“Restored to the team for the Premier League defeat by Chelsea, the 32-year-old's penalty on 58 minutes sparked an incredible revival to ease some of the pressure on Carrick.”
Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Manchester United overturned a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League. Bruno Fernandes said the win wasn't about saving anyone's job.
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Fernandes shrugs off job talk
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes told Amazon Prime, "We don't need to save anyone's job," after the team came back from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League at Old Trafford. Fernandes said the club needed the win and the players needed the win, and he framed the result as a response to a run of nine games without a victory. Michael Carrick’s position had come under threat after United’s 4-1 loss at Como, and Fernandes described being dropped to the bench after publicly criticising Carrick's tactics.
Fernandes said the manager took the decision to put him on the bench because he was not performing, and he insisted that the decision did not change his belief in the manager and staff. Matheus Cunha completed the comeback with two goals, and Sky Sports said Cunha was sent off late on Tuesday 3 November 2026 22:50, UK, as United held on for the win.
Carrick credits Old Trafford
Michael Carrick told reporters that "This place does it" as he pointed to Old Trafford’s atmosphere during the comeback against Roma. Carrick said United started OK, then a goal came from nowhere, and he described the team as having caused themselves "a few issues" with nerves and anxiety. Bruno Fernandes said fans were used to seeing the club at the top, winning trophies and winning games every week, and he said it had been frustrating to see the club in this situation.
Fernandes added that he and the manager had cleared the air, and he said the manager took the decision to put him on the bench against Bournemouth because he was not performing at the required level. Youri Tielemans said, "That’s how we repay Carrick," and he described the squad as keeping working and believing while pushing for answers in the second half.
Next matches and lingering pressure
The New York Times said United finished the game with 10 men after Matheus Cunha was shown a second yellow five minutes later, but the club held on for a vital win at Old Trafford. The New York Times said the next match for Michael Carrick and co. was a match at home on Sunday against Aston Villa in the Premier League, and it also set a Champions League trip to Sporting CP in Lisbon on November 25. The Guardian said Carrick would go into Sunday’s Premier League game at home against Aston Villa with renewed belief, after Roma took a 2-0 lead into the break.
The Guardian also described the fragility of United’s backline and said Luke Shaw was still injured, leaving Carrick to persist with Diogo Dalot out of position at left-back. CBS Sports said the comeback ended a run of nine games without a victory, and it framed the result as a sign that players were still committed to the cause and perhaps to the manager.
