Bruno Fernandes blames tactical choice as United slump further

Manchester United suffered a 4‑1 drubbing at the hands of Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, prompting captain Bruno Fernandes to publicly question a tactical decision by the coaching staff.

United’s Champions League humiliation

The Red Devils’ loss extended their winless run to seven straight matches across all competitions, a streak not seen since a sequence of eight defeats between November and December 2015. The defeat also left the club with only two victories in their first ten fixtures of the 2026/27 season, marking their poorest Premier League start in four decades.

Fernandes, deployed as a false nine, was withdrawn after 67 minutes. He explained that the team deliberately chose not to press the Como players individually, a move he believed gave the opposition confidence and space to create chances.

“It was a decision of the commission not to press man‑to‑man and, sometimes, leave space behind and try to recover the ball waiting for them. But, when you give space to these teams, they gain confidence,” Fernandes said after the match.

Carrick backs himself as United head into Bournemouth clash

He added that United needed to be more aggressive without possession, noting that Como pressed high and disrupted the English side’s build‑up. “Sometimes you have to be more courageous under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and make them uncomfortable. As we saw with them, the defender was marking me up to our own half,” he explained.

Carrick takes responsibility ahead of league clash

Michael Carrick accepted full responsibility for the performance, describing it as “more than disappointing” and “unacceptable”. He stated, “Everyone needs to take responsibility for it. I take 100 percent responsibility for the team and the performance.”

Carrick under mounting pressure as United weigh his future and Fernandes' captaincy

United travel to Bournemouth for a Premier League match on Sunday, with pressure on Carrick expected to remain high as the board continues to evaluate possible managerial replacements.