As the clock ticked down to the last 20 minutes of Manchester United’s tie against Roma in the Champions League, it seemed that whilst there was a glimmer of hope for Michael Carrick and his men, the improbable comeback would remain beyond their reach.
Then, Shea Lacey was introduced in the 74th minute in place of Amad Diallo, and within 20 minutes, he had taken the game by the scruff of its neck, immediately becoming a catalyst in United’s remarkable victory.
100% pass accuracy, three successful dribbles, eight carries with the ball, and, most importantly, one key pass which split open Roma’s back line and allowed Matheus Cunha to burst through and fire his second goal past Devis Vasquez. The Brazilian completed his brace, while United secured all three points.
The English winger may have saved Carrick's job, and it could be time for the manager to put his trust in him.
How the game played out
Despite enjoying spells of possession and moving into promising positions, United found themselves 2-0 down by the 17th minute. A comedy of defensive errors saw Diogo Dalot wildly out of position for both Matias Soule’s opener and the subsequent incident in which an Ayden Heaven handball left the referee with little choice but to point to the spot.
An in-form Donyell Malen stepped up and made no mistake, sending the ball screeching past Senne Lammens in goal.
With United’s current form, it was hardly surprising to see a Roma side who had yet to lose a match in Serie A expose their vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the Old Trafford faithful sat increasingly resigned to another miserable evening, with anti-Glazer, INEOS and Wilcox chants ringing around the stadium.
It was Carlos Baleba’s injury that finally brought the crowd back to life. At the beginning of the second half, the Cameroonian attempted to take the game by the scruff of its neck, embarking on a marauding run beyond the Roma defence.
Just as it looked as though the midfielder might open his United account or drive the ball across goal, he pulled up clutching his hamstring, eventually having to leave the pitch.
His injury appeared to spark something inside the Old Trafford crowd, with the 70,000 supporters rising to their feet and creating an atmosphere that had been sorely lacking during the opening stages.
That renewed energy seemed to carry onto the pitch, as United were awarded a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted on the second time of asking after encroachment from a Roma player.
Yet as time ticked down and the prospect of a comeback began to fade, United's introduction of a young winger helped drive them further up the pitch and inject much-needed urgency into their attack.
The 19-year-old has become one of the more favoured youngsters under Carrick, but has rarely been afforded a meaningful opportunity to prove himself.
Across six appearances this season, Lacey has received just 125 minutes, mostly in brief spells off the bench, often when matches have already reached their closing stages.
The only fixture he has started was the 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the League Cup. Despite United surrendering a two-goal lead—much like Roma did on Tuesday night—Lacey was undoubtedly one of the brightest performers, opening the scoring for the Red Devils in the eighth minute and getting his United account underway.
Despite the limited opportunities he has received in the first team, there is already a compelling argument that Lacey has outperformed Amad. The Ivorian winger has shown flashes of the dangerous flair that made him such an exciting prospect, but potential and promise can only take a side so far. United cannot afford to keep relying on players who look capable of producing something special without consistently delivering it.
Amad has managed just two goal contributions for United this year: an assist for Bryan Mbeumo against Brighton in the final match of the 2025/26 season, followed by another for Joshua Zirkzee, who scored a late consolation in the 4-1 defeat to Como 1907.
Carrick’s job is still under pressure; one miraculous comeback will not change that.
And with United heading into the international break after their match against Aston Villa on Sunday, it might be time for the head coach to put his trust in a young winger, who could prove key in saving his job.
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