Fernandes Scores in United Comeback Over Roma

Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in the 58th minute to spark a 3-2 comeback victory for Manchester United against Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The win snapped a run of nine consecutive games without a victory, ending a difficult stretch for the squad and its management.

The match marked the Portuguese midfielder’s return to the starting lineup after a turbulent period. Fernandes had been dropped to the bench following public criticism of head coach Michael Carrick’s tactics in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Como. He was restored for a Premier League defeat by Chelsea before starting the Champions League fixture against Roma.

In his first media appearance since the benching, Fernandes addressed reports of tension between himself and Carrick. Speaking to Amazon Prime, the 32-year-old captain said that "a lot of lies" had circulated regarding their relationship. "It's been tough, there's been a lot of speculation in the media," he stated. He noted that while Carrick decided to bench him due to performance issues, the decision was fair and did not alter his belief in the manager and staff.

Fernandes emphasized that the team focused on winning rather than protecting specific individuals. "We don't need to save anyone's job," he said, adding that the club and the players needed the result. He described the effort to escape their winless slump as a collective process, stating, "We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together."

Former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, supported Fernandes’ comments. Schmeichel noted that media reports are often a fraction of the truth and expressed hope that the team could move past the public dispute. "I hope for Manchester United and Michael Carrick they can draw a line under all this public stuff and they can get back to winning games like they did today," Schmeichel said.

Carrick, 45, was given a two-year contract last season after guiding United back to the Champions League. However, the team currently sits 17th in the Premier League with only one win in their first nine matches of this season. United’s board chose to keep Carrick in charge after the Bournemouth match, opting to give him the opportunity to turn the season around.

Teammates praised the resilience shown in the match. Midfielder Youri Tielemans told Amazon Prime that the pressure on Carrick had been high and that the team repaid him with a display of character. "There has been a lot of pressure on him and that's how we repay him, with a comeback like this, big character, big fight," Tielemans said. When asked if the result saved Carrick’s job, Tielemans replied, "That's a different question. The only thing we can do is stick behind him, fight for him and fight for the club."

Kobbie Mainoo described the victory as a relief. "A big sigh of relief, we've needed this win for a while and hopefully we can carry it on," he said. The win moves United to 17th in the Champions League league phase table, their second victory in four matches this season.