Carrick steered red-carded Cunha off pitch to shield him from further punishment after United's comeback

Michael Carrick’s brief, stern-looking conversation with Matheus Cunha at full time on Tuesday was not a dressing-down — it was damage limitation. After Manchester United overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Roma 3-2 at Old Trafford in the Champions League, Carrick moved quickly to usher the Brazilian striker down the tunnel before he could breach the laws of the game, which prohibit red-carded players from entering the pitch immediately after the final whistle.

Cunha had been the architect of one of United’s most dramatic recent victories, scoring twice in the second half to complete a comeback that had looked improbable after Matias Soule and Donyell Malen’s penalty put Roma two goals clear inside 17 minutes. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty to begin the fightback, before Cunha slotted in a composed equaliser and then blasted a second at the near post to seal a 3-2 win that ended a nine-game winless run.

The emotions of the occasion caught up with Cunha, however. He was first booked for removing his shirt and leaping into the crowd to celebrate, then collected a second yellow card — and a red — for a late sliding challenge on Leonardo Balerdi. That dismissal means he will miss United’s next Champions League fixture, against Sporting Lisbon on 25 November in Portugal.

With Cunha technically barred from the pitch after his sending-off, Carrick’s intervention was designed to prevent any additional sanction rather than to reprimand him. The United manager was measured in his post-match assessment of the incident. “Disappointed with how it finished but, again, it just shows how much he cares and he’s willing to do,” Carrick said. “When he’s in that frame of mind and he’s in that mood, that’s why we want him here.”

Cunha himself was characteristically candid, joking that his celebration was “too Brazilian” before reflecting on the broader significance of the result. “What a magic day. Of course, apart from the red card,” he said. “Everything that you can bring for this club — and then always dream to be part of something unbelievable. Come here and have this comeback in this very hard moment of the season. Today was a blessed day for me.”