However, at Old Trafford vs Roma, all was forgotten when the Brazilian dragged United to three points with two late goals.

At full-time, Carrick could be seen giving Cunha his marching orders, telling him to go straight to the dressing room, preventing him from being a part of the winning celebrations.

Truth behind Michael Carrick-Matheus Cunha confrontation

Not many Man Utd fans care that Cunha got himself sent off in the dying embers of the game when he picked up a second yellow card for a clumsy tackle.

He was already on a booking after taking his shirt off for a goal celebration earlier, so United ended the game with ten men for a nervy full-time whistle.

Lost among the celebrations was Cunha, who had made his way out of the dressing room to join the festivities of which he was the architect.

Immediately, Carrick ran to Cunha and ordered him to get back into the dressing room, something that was caught on camera.

The reality behind that moment has nothing to do with an uneasy relationship between the two. It was simply Carrick abiding by the rules and saving Cunha from further sanctions.

A player who has been sent off cannot be on the field until the referee hasn’t left it, regardless of whether the full-time whistle has blown.

By joining the celebrations, Cunha risked a further ban and harsher sanctions, something which Carrick was fully aware of despite the adrenaline of that victory.

Cunha listened to Carrick and made his way back to the dressing room, where he could easily continue his celebrations without the threat of rules being broken.

The balance of a stoic Carrick with an emotional Cunha was much needed, because the Brazilian has just become a maverick at the club again, and they can’t afford to miss out on more games with him in the starting XI.