Michael Carrick may still need a greater comeback than this if he is to keep his job. But even if it does prove his last Champions League night at Old Trafford, at least he was given a glimpse of the Manchester United he remembers and which, increasingly, had seemed consigned to the past.

There was an extraordinary fightback, a victory plucked from the jaws of defeat. The crowd who had reacted to the award of a penalty by calling for the Glazer family to go ended up galvanised and roused, cheering a team who had been an absolute embarrassment for 45 minutes to a victory few saw coming,

Carrick had said he knew it sounded crazy when he said he was looking forward to this game. By half-time, his optimism appeared delusional. But now and again, even when they are at their lowest ebb for decades, United can justify the faith.

Carrick had talked on Monday about a magical night against Roma. That was 20 seasons ago, when United destroyed them 7-1. Fast forward from 2007 and, in 2026, out of nowhere, this version of United stumbled across some magic of their own.

Roma could be forgiven for wondering what happened, if they are cursed on this ground. Two goals to the good, they almost made it three on the stroke of half-time. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side were showing it was possible to play dynamic attacking football and produce a coherent team in a 3-4-3 formation at Old Trafford, something Ruben Amorim never accomplished despite his best efforts.

Roma's first win in England in 17 attempts and 25 years appeared a certainty. Instead, they departed defeated, taking regrets for eternity back to the eternal city.

The catalysts for the comeback were Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha. The Portuguese scored one goal and made another, showing why Carrick had to restore him to the team after his post-match criticisms of the manager in Italy. The Brazilian had a part in the first goal, scored the equaliser, then the winner and still had time to collect a red card.

Booked for celebrating his goal in the crowd, Cunha was sent off in injury time, sliding recklessly into Leonardo Balerdi. He is out of United’s trip to Lisbon to face Sporting in three weeks’ time.

Victory came at another cost: Carlos Baleba had appeared the first United player to sprint all game when he burst through on goal just after half-time but pulled up holding his hamstring and went off in tears. He presumably will not be seen again until December.

So he went off before the game was transformed. If Carrick has been luckless of late, United may have had twin strokes of fortune. They were awarded a penalty, with Gianluca Mancini deemed to have fouled Cunha, and then a retake after Roma’s third-choice goalkeeper Devis Vazquez saved from Fernandes but Bryan Cristante was punished for encroachment. The United captain’s aim was surer the second time around and he ended his own goal drought, which dated back almost two months.

There was almost an instant equaliser. Cunha released Bryan Mbeumo with a wonderful pass and the Cameroonian’s shot hit both posts but did not cross the line.

As Old Trafford rediscovered energy and excitement, Diogo Dalot had a header cleared off the line by Cristante. Then, when Fernandes crossed, Balerdi inexplicably missed his kick and Cunha slotted in. Shortly after, he whipped in a sumptuous shot off the near post to complete a remarkable turnaround.

And so United’s nine-game run without a win was ended. A second victory in the Champions League this season reduces the chance they will fail to even get a top-24 finish. Yet when the Stretford End threw tennis balls on to the pitch in protest, it was tempting to think that, given United’s problems with football, they were merely seeing if they could fare better with something else.

United had surged into a two-goal deficit, conceding twice in the space of eight minutes. It was the earliest any visiting side had ever scored twice at Old Trafford in Europe.

The lack of an alternative left-back has been costly since Luke Shaw was injured. It was a factor in Roma’s swift double. Preferred to the dropped Lisandro Martinez, Ayden Heaven’s recall swiftly turned hellish. Dalot was dismal, even by his own standards

When Rodrigo Mora swept a cross-field ball and a jumping Heaven only succeeded in heading thin air, Dalot was caught upfield, allowing an unmarked Matias Soule to sweep in a low shot. Remarkably, Dalot was out of position again, allowing Soule room behind him, when the Argentinian’s shot hit Heaven’s arm.

Donyell Malen converted the penalty. It was his 12th goal in 13 games. There was almost a 13th, when Senne Lammens made a fine save after the Red Devils’ defence parted like the Red Sea. Forever unmarked, Soule then curled a shot just wide.

Roma could have finished United, and perhaps Carrick, off. But, if only for one night, this was like the United of old.