Cristiano Ronaldo scored against Atalanta the third goal - the second time in Champions League games that he has scored a late winner
Manchester United's win over Atalanta, 3-2, was received with as much confusion as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trying to summarize his current status as manager.
Solskjaer said they had "played well" during the first half. Paul Scholes, a former United midfielder, described the 45 minutes as "a major concern" and said it would lead to Liverpool rolling them over when they meet again on Sunday.
Rio Ferdinand, a fellow pundit and ex-Uni defender, praised the "intensity", saying that "there is no worse game to roll into the weekend." Harry Maguire admitted that his team conceded "bad goals", but also showed "great togetherness".
It's no surprise that nobody knows who United team will face Jurgen Klopp's side. That includes Solskjaer.
The pattern was evident in the most recent of the famous European nights at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer seems to be at the end of his rope and his status is deteriorating, but he and his team produce a result that relieves the pressure.
This happened against Liverpool in October 2019, when United defeated Klopp's team and became the only side to score a point in the first two-thirds season.
They won one in four two months later and defeated Tottenham and Manchester City to end growing disgruntlement.
United had won in five of their last five games, before going to City and winning again.
They had previously won one in five before Wednesday's match - against Villarreal.
Solskjaer looked like a man on edge when he was booed by a frustrated Old Trafford crowd at the end the first half. His team was 2-0 down and had conceded routine goals.
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Solskjaer was serenaded by the "singing group" in the corner of the South Stand and Stretford End just over an hour later. The manager, who had applauded them while they were heading for the dressing room at break, refused to let them go until he came out to fulfill his TV obligations and acknowledged them again.
He said, "This corner is the best in the whole world." "You may feel a little bit defeated as a supporter, but you persevere."
However, even after the dust has settled, the same fans will feel a bit of anxiety about the future. United must stabilise their Premier League form which has been slipping alarmingly.
Solskjaer was asked if the dramatic comeback indicated that the United players were playing for his. He replied bluntly, "Don't even begin." Do not disrespect the players.
Referring to matchwinner Ronaldo, following up the weekend analysis of his attacking team's lack of pressing in the 4-2 defeat at Leicester - Solskjaer suggested that: "If anyone wishes to criticise him about work rate or attitude, just look at this game and see how he runs around."
Ferdinand said: "If there was any doubt that these players would run, hustle, and fight for Ole, it is true. They showed they were willing to go through brick walls for Ole, which was a question that many people were asking.
Solskjaer said that the first-half performance was "not worthy" of the 2-0 score at the interval. That "was the message at mid-time."
We know that we need to defend key moments more effectively. When you concede easy goals, it is perceived that we are inconsistent in performance. It must be eliminated."
Solskjaer's big question is: can it happen? It is possible when Solskjaer commits four players to attacking in a bold 4-2-4 formation as he did against Atalanta, despite having Paul Pogba on the bench and Jadon Sancho on his bench.
Fred and Scott McTominay had been overworked at the centre of the midfield, and especially now Raphael Varane has been out for "a few months", United appear to lack the personnel necessary to deal with defence.
It is important to remember that if David de Gea hadn't made his spectacular double save in the second half, there wouldn't have been a stirring comeback to celebrate.
Scholes stated to BT Sport that "Against a true team, that would prove disastrous." "Jurgen Klopp is going to be rubbing his eyes together."
Bruno Fernandes, like many of his teammates, mixed the absurd with the sublime. It was a sensational pass that allowed Marcus Rashford to be released for the decisive goal of United's comeback. His team-mates were in trouble because routine passes often failed to find their men.
The Portuguese said, "That's how it works with trying to make passes." Some work, others don't.
The same comment could have been made about the whole United team by him: That's how it works, sometimes wins and sometimes loses.
He instead summarized it in a more simple way.
He said, "We must concede less and score better." We can't blame the defenders. As a group, we train to attack and defend. We all make mistakes, but we can learn from them and improve our skills.
It sounds so easy. Solskjaer is approaching three years of service and seems far from the answers.
It is impossible to predict which United team will be at Old Trafford on Saturday.
