Two previous Old Trafford managers were given the sack shortly after spookily similar European fightbacks. Firstly, cast your mind back to October 2018 when Jose Mourinho was at the helm.
With pressure mounting, his side fought back from 2-0 down against Newcastle to win 3-2 and save the Special One’s skin.
However, just 12 days later it was judgement day for Mourinho, who was dismissed after two-and-a-half years following a defeat to Liverpool.
Fast forward to October 2021 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the wheel.
Solskjaer’s United trailed 2-0 to Atalanta before an inspired turnaround temporarily rescued the manager. The United legend’s side were hammered 5-0 by Liverpool days later, and he limped on for another month before getting the boot.
In another parallel, that victory came against Gian Piero Gasperini — the same man in the Roma dugout on Tuesday.
It was also a reminder of a Paul Scholes prophecy that came true days later.
Following that Atalanta win, an unimpressed Scholes said: “The first half really worried me.
“People will say I’m just miserable, but I looked at that game thinking about Liverpool on Sunday, because I thought in that first half United were all over the place.
“They’ve come back from 2-0 down, great fighting spirit. “However, they’ve conceded so many chances. “When you play against quality players, there’s no way you’re winning that game.
“Go on do that on Sunday against Liverpool and see what happens.” – Sun
