Manchester United flipped the script against Roma, but the Mourinho and Solskjaer eras show how quickly a big night can turn into a hangover.
Manchester United have pulled off a comeback against Roma that will be replayed for a long time. Now comes the harder part: proving it was a turning point rather than a one-night thrill.
That is the question hanging over Old Trafford, because this club has been here before. Under both José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United produced big nights that had supporters dreaming, only for the next match to bring them back down. Momentum has rarely carried over for long in recent years.
The pattern is as much mental as tactical. Comebacks run on emotion, urgency and belief, and those are hard to bottle for the next fixture, especially against opponents who sit deep, stay compact and wait for the visitors to look tired. Following one statement result with another takes game management and sharp rotation decisions, not just heart.
That is why the next match matters so much. A second win would suggest the Roma performance was built on something sustainable, such as structure, confidence and a clear plan. A slip would put United back in a familiar story of brilliant moments without consistency.
For the neutral, it makes for a fascinating test. The comeback showed what United can do at full tilt. The follow-up will show whether they can do it again.
