Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has openly admitted that securing a last-gasp victory at Old Trafford represents "the best feeling" in football, following a dramatic 3-2 Premier League triumph over Fulham. The emotional high came courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from substitute Benjamin Sesko, which sealed a third consecutive win under Carrick's temporary stewardship and propelled the club back into the top four.
A Rollercoaster Encounter at the Theatre of Dreams
The match unfolded as a classic tale of two halves for the Red Devils. United established what appeared to be a commanding 2-0 lead through first-half goals from midfielder Casemiro and forward Matheus Cunha. However, the visitors staged a remarkable late comeback, with Raul Jimenez converting an 85th-minute penalty before Kevin Mbabu curled in a stunning equaliser in the first minute of added time.
Just as it seemed United had squandered all three points, up stepped Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian striker, introduced from the bench, found the net in the dying moments to snatch a dramatic victory, sending the Stretford End into raptures and sparking wild celebrations on the touchline.
'The Best Feeling' - Carrick's Emotional Reaction
Speaking after the final whistle, an elated Michael Carrick reflected on the significance of winning in such dramatic fashion at the club's historic home. "It's the best feeling I have to say," Carrick confessed, referencing the famous 'Fergie Time' comebacks of years past. "Some of the best moments I've been part of here, you can dissect performances and there are plusses and not, and then you get a moment of elation and excitement like that."
Carrick, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career at United, emphasised the unique atmosphere created by such late drama. "For me there's no better place than in front of the Stretford End like that. It ends up meaning more. People leave here with more than just, 'United won today' – it's layers on top of that, the emotion and the feeling and it's why we all love it so much."
Character Praised Despite Room for Improvement
While celebrating the result, the interim boss acknowledged that his team's performance was far from perfect. United's inability to see out the game from a comfortable position highlighted ongoing issues that require attention, even amidst this positive run of form.
"The character we showed after a big setback, a huge setback, in the 90th minute, to do that coming off what we did last week off a setback is probably the most pleasing thing," Carrick stated, referencing the recent 3-2 win at Arsenal. "To keep the belief, to keep the confidence. We can play better and that's probably the most pleasing thing. The rest of the game, we can play better, we can do a lot of things better in certain moments but I can't fault the players' belief. It's taken us through today and it's a good feeling when it does."
Controversy Mars Fulham's Brave Performance
The match was not without significant controversy, which left Fulham manager Marco Silva fuming. United's opening goal, a Casemiro header from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, originated from a disputed VAR decision.
Referee John Brooks initially awarded a penalty after Matheus Cunha went down under a challenge from Fulham defender Jorge Cuenca. Upon review, VAR officials determined that Cuenca had cleanly won the ball, but instead of overturning the decision entirely, they advised Brooks that a foul – a pull on Cunha – had occurred just outside the penalty area. The referee subsequently awarded a free-kick on the touchline, from which United scored.
Silva's Fury at 'Re-Refereeing'
Marco Silva expressed his profound frustration post-match, arguing that the video assistant had effectively re-refereed the incident. "The penalty was given – it was a bad, bad, bad decision from John Brooks," Silva asserted. "The penalty was given for the tackle of Cuenca, that was clear, then after they found the pull three, four seconds before... The feedback we got on the touchline was that after the review John Brooks was going to go to the screen because in VAR's opinion it was not a penalty and that after that comes a completely different decision, they give a free-kick for a pull."
The Portuguese coach highlighted the unusual nature of the ruling. "It's the first time this season that a penalty has been given for one incident and then a VAR decision comes from a completely different incident and gave a free-kick. It's the first time we have seen that this season, last season, but maybe it comes more in the future."
Despite the contentious decision and the heartbreak of conceding so late, Fulham's performance demonstrated considerable resilience, pushing a resurgent United side to the very limit. For Carrick and his players, however, the focus remains on building momentum, with the character shown in securing this dramatic victory providing a significant psychological boost as they aim to consolidate their position in the Premier League's upper echelons.
