Man Utd vs Roma reaction: Rooney hails ‘amazing’ second half as pundits demand more from Carrick’s side

Wayne Rooney praised Manchester United’s “amazing” second-half response against Roma, but Alan Shearer warned Michael Carrick’s side must repeat that standard after their dramatic 3–2 comeback win.

United overturned a two-goal deficit at Old Trafford on Tuesday to end nine matches without a victory. Bruno Fernandes started the recovery from the penalty spot before Matheus Cunha scored twice in three minutes.

Man Utd vs Roma reaction: Rooney praises the fightback

Rooney’s post-match assessment on Prime Video reflected how dramatically United had improved after the interval.

“The second-half was amazing, they were front-footed and they deserved to win the game in the end,” he said, in comments reported by Football365.

The former United captain had been much more critical at half-time. He questioned the players’ willingness to compete and singled out Fernandes’ defensive responsibility when Diogo Dalot advanced on United’s left.

Rooney’s argument was that a team-mate had to cover the space. Fernandes’ status as captain made that responsibility more significant in his assessment.

After the comeback, Rooney praised the aggression and commitment United had finally shown. He also highlighted how the improvement encouraged the supporters, helping create the belief that a winning goal would follow.

Our Manchester United 3-2 Roma match report covers the turnaround and Cunha’s subsequent dismissal. The post-match verdicts recognised the recovery while questioning why United had needed such a poor first half to produce it.

Alan Shearer says United must repeat their second-half standard

Shearer credited Carrick for the response but rejected the suggestion that one result was enough to settle questions about the manager’s position.

“They have got to go on and do what they did in the second half,” he said on Prime Video, as recorded in TNT Sports’ match coverage.

“Why didn’t they start like that?”

Shearer felt Fernandes’ penalty restored confidence and brought the crowd into the game. His concern was that United had waited until they were two goals behind to show the intensity supporters expected from the start.

Karen Carney: ‘I feel a bit cheated’

Speaking on TNT Sports’ Goals Show Xtra, Karen Carney welcomed the result but questioned why United had been unable to produce the same effort during their winless run.

“I feel a bit cheated,” she said in TNT Sports’ post-match analysis.

“Where has that been for Michael, for themselves, for the club?”

Carney viewed the transformation primarily as a change in commitment and desire. She acknowledged that Carrick’s half-time message might have helped, but questioned why those qualities had been missing in previous performances.

Paul Merson wants consistency from Matheus Cunha

Paul Merson’s assessment on Sky Sports focused on Cunha’s ability to sustain his best form.

The former Arsenal midfielder argued that United needed reliable performances every week, rather than large swings between outstanding and ineffective displays.

“You can’t be a nine one week and four the week after,” Merson said, in comments reported by Football365.

He added that “he’s got to get to consistent levels”.

Our Manchester United player ratings against Roma assess Cunha’s decisive contribution alongside the performances around him.

Dave.Sport analysis: Aston Villa will test the response

The common concern across those verdicts is whether United can reproduce their second-half intensity before a match starts slipping away.

Tuesday provided evidence of their attacking threat, including Shea Lacey’s contribution to Cunha’s winner. It also exposed defensive problems that a late comeback cannot resolve on its own.

United host Aston Villa on Sunday 8 November. For Carrick, the challenge is to turn the aggression and confidence that changed the Roma game into a performance sustained from the opening whistle.