Comebacks play an outsized place in Manchester United’s history. They are starting to form the tale of their season. The side who finished 15th last year have recovered to take third place now. A team who looked in danger of missing out on Champions League football under Ruben Amorim are now on course to reclaim their place among the European elite under Michael Carrick. A game was won after trailing, taking the Englishman’s return to seven points from losing positions. And then there is the comeback of Carrick himself, back at Old Trafford; perhaps, at this rate, for rather longer than originally envisaged.
“We showed that belief and personality,” said Carrick, savouring the way defeat was turned into victory. It can be a trait in United fightbacks, and there was a familiar plotline here. This was scarcely the first turnaround powered by Bruno Fernandes; indeed, the 18th Premier League game in which he has both scored and assisted for United took him past David Beckham. The captain continues to be inspirational, and he delivered a cathartic celebration, punching the air, when his enticing cross was headed in by Benjamin Sesko for the decider. “It feels like a big result,” said Fernandes. “We were behind and had to show some character.”
