Manchester United under fire as Como thrash fuels Carrick scrutiny

Manchester United suffered a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, prompting senior figures to blame the players and intensify scrutiny on manager Michael Carrick. The loss left the club’s hierarchy astonished by the abject on‑field display and heightened the pressure on Carrick’s tenure.

Early shock from Como

Nico Paz broke the deadlock inside just two minutes, giving the Serie A side an early lead. A string of saves from Senne Lammens kept the scoreline respectable until the break, but the early goal set the tone for a dismal afternoon.

United's second‑half collapse

After the interval, Como added two more goals, with Paz providing an assist for Anastasios Douvikas before netting his second. The 22‑year‑old commanded proceedings for the visitors while United’s Bruno Fernandes was deployed out of position and withdrawn in the 66th minute. Mid‑fielder Andrey Santos was booked and substituted at half‑time, and Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt appeared completely overwhelmed.

Carrick under fire despite security

Senior United figures described the performance as “abject”, and The Times reported that the recent slump falls on the players rather than solely on Carrick. United have secured just two victories this campaign, and the manager faces growing scrutiny while his position remains secure for the time being.

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Speaking after the match, Carrick said: “Listen, I’ve not given my own position any thought. My thoughts are for the supporters – I was one of them watching that and I wasn’t happy at all.” He added that the focus was on the team: “It’s not about me right now… the results can come and go, but you have to do it in a certain way. That wasn’t it.”

Bruno Fernandes told that the staff’s decision not to press man‑to‑man left space for Como to build confidence. When asked if Carrick had got it wrong, he replied: “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high.”

Carrick later explained United’s tactical approach: “We actually half‑pressed man‑to‑man the second half and then conceded a goal from that. Whatever system you play, if you don’t run forward and back, you aren’t going to win.”

Jamie Carragher says Carrick benched Bruno Fernandes to embarrass him

The report was filed by Matty Hewitt, Senior Sport Central writer, and senior figures at MAN UTD believe the players deserve a significant proportion of the blame.