Michael Carrick may be spared after United scored twice in injury to salvage a draw

Credit : Shutterstock/Adam Vaughan

Michael Carrick stood perfectly still and raised his left arm, and his index finger, high in the air. Around him, chaos. As it had been all afternoon. Substitute Patrick Dorgu had just headed in a corner to rescue a point for Manchester United in the 96th minute and, maybe, save Carrick his job.

Going into added time and United were two goals behind. It seemed all was lost for them against Aston Villa and for their head coach, but how telling was the reaction, in the directors’ box, of chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, who both jumped up in celebration? They were far more animated than Carrick and could not contain themselves.

"Football is a contact sport!" 🗣️

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