Manchester United: Michael Carrick reveals half-time team talk that may have saved his job

An extraordinary Champions League night at Old Trafford had started grimly, featuring renewed fan demonstrations directed at owners the Glazer family alongside a feeble first-half performance that the visitors ruthlessly punished.

Matias Soule seized on an avoidable opener before Donyell Malen doubled the lead from the spot, prompting loud boos at the interval, before Carrick’s side dug deep to pull off a memorable turnaround.

Captain Bruno Fernandes converted a retaken penalty prior to Matheus Cunha scoring a dramatic late double – and receiving an even later red card – as the Red Devils halted their nine-game winless run in style.

"[’I’m] proud of a lot of people, actually," United head coach Carrick said. "Proud of the players. I think they deserve a lot of credit for pulling through that in a tough situation.

"And for the supporters, you know, to be there. I could feel they were desperate for us to give them something to get their teeth into.

Michael Carrick at full-time

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"Frustrating, disappointing, as we all were going in at half-time.

“But I spoke with the players about the second half, about what this place can do and moments, and one moment can really flip it.

"We came out second half really well, just stayed really positive through the whole second half.

"To come through and see so many positives and had to keep going to get that at the end, I’m really pleased for an awful lot of people for that one.

"It’s one win, so we’re not getting too carried away with things, but it was it was an important one for us."

He added: “It’s important for some of the players to have the feeling that they maybe haven’t had here before.

“Some of the lads that came this year, some of the boys that came even last year who maybe haven’t had a feeling of that.

“I think it’s important for them to know what that means and how it feels.

“It’s pretty obvious to say, but until you’ve really gone through it and felt it and had to dig deep and come out the other side, sometimes you don’t know what it’s like.”