Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes turned on head coach Michael Carrick following one of the most humiliating nights in the club's European history.

A 4-1 Champions League hammering at Como led to Carrick fielding questions about his future.

He apologised to the 700 travelling fans, having ignored his beaten players after the final whistle to march across the pitch and repeatedly hold his hands up - in a manner similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 which led to his dismissal as United boss 24 hours later.

However, Fernandes - widely accepted as a football obsessive who watches games regularly as he understands the tactical side as well as any player in the United squad - inflicted more damage when he spoke to TNT Sports.

"It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence," he told TNT Sports.

Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Told of Fernandes' comments in his post-match press conference, Carrick offered a curt response: "There's a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."

Manchester United are among several European clubs showing interest in FC Twente's highly rated Dutch centre-back Ruud Nijstad, 18. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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After Manchester United's 4-1 defeat against Seria A side, Como, Michael Carrick answered key topics on his side's performance in his news conference, including whether the players are still playing for him.

Does Carrick think he was let down by his players?

"I don't take it personally. It's everything wrapped around the football club.

"What you do, your behaviour, and how you perform, and how you go about it. More importantly, it is the responsibility of representing this football club.

"It's it's about the football club, you know, and what we represent and the supporters.

"It wasn't just the goals, it was the manner and the way we played at times. The way we went about it was the difficult thing to watch for me."

Is he thinking about quitting?

"No. It's not about me right now and my feelings in that regard. It's more of as a team and as a football club, what we want to look like, what we should look like.

"And as I said, the results can come and go at times, but you have got to do it in a certain way and that wasn't it."

Are the United players playing for Carrick?

"It's not about playing for me, it's about playing for this football club.

"I'm responsible for the football club and the supporters.

"I'm giving my best, my absolute best all the time. I care about it.

"My whole life's wrapped around it. Listen, it might go well, it might not go so well, but I genuinely give everything I can.

"It's really not about me and the relationship, it's about what we all give; players, staff, for this football club."

Get in touch with your views on United's performance here

Michael Carrick seemed to ignore his players as he went to acknowledge the United fans, repeatedly holding his hands up in apology, in the manner of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 - which led to his dismissal 24 hours later.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Carrick said: "More than disappointing. Everybody, to be honest, everyone has got to take responsibility for that.

"100% I will take responsibility for the overall team and the performance. That is where it stops, it stops with me. I am absolutely fine with that and I accept that totally.

"But as a supporter of this football club for so long, and I care so much about this football club, to see it perform like that is unacceptable.

"There are all sorts of elements to a performance. I will definitely look at what we have done. The motivation, the intention, the purpose, and the intensity of the game of football you have to bring. We didn't bring that today.

"We have shown it for six or seven months, but you cannot turn it on and off. You cannot choose when you want to perform or when you don't want to perform. So, until you do that, you're not going to win football matches.

"I care an unbelievable amount about the supporters. You know, they're the heartbeat of this football club and always will be.

"For them to travel, I can only apologise for the performance.

"Everything they have done to get here tonight, to have to watch a performance like that, I totally feel for them. There is no excuses at all. It is just not acceptable."

"Tonight is not about me, it is not about me. It is about digesting the game to be honest and how it went. I think that's the most important thing right now."

Read Simon's report

Image source, Getty Images

Man Utd starting XI:

Senne Lammens: No chance with the opener. Important near-post save on a slippy surface and solid stop after, and that was just before half-time. Goal was breached pretty soon afterwards, no chance with third. 6

Diogo Dalot: As it turned out, the failure to take a chance inside a minute was quite costly. Difficult night even if the major problems were on the other side. 5

Matthijs de Ligt (off 79, Amass): Return after 11 months out got off to a bad start. No opportunity to ease himself in. Como attack too fluid. Bad night. 4

Harry Maguire: Couldn't get to Nico Paz quickly enough to close down the Argentine's shot for the opener. Header wide at the other end. Collectively not good enough. 4

Noussair Mazraoui: Struggled badly, caught on his heels one moment, slipping under pressure the next. Didn't use Cunha as much as Michael Carrick was looking for, left for dead by Como's Lucas da Cunha. Gave the ball away on edge of own area. 3

Mason Mount: Tidy on the ball but exposed defensively. Pre-season link-up with Santos nowhere near as effective here. 5

Andrey Santos (off 46, Baleba): Got away with one late challenge, but first-half yellow card for a second. Being replaced at half-time said it all. 5

Matheus Cunha (off 46, Amad): Given preferred left-sided slot but not in the game enough and no surprise he didn't reappear after the break. 5

Youri Tielemans: Started in advanced role. Linked well with Mbeumo to set up a half-chance and eager to get on the ball and create. Had visitors first shot on target. 6

Bruno Fernandes (off 67, Zirkzee): Another frustrating night for the Man Utd skipper. Couldn't get passing range right even when he had the chance to create. Taken off midway through second half. 4

Bryan Mbeumo (off 86, Lacey): Couldn't convert half-chance from an acute angle and found it difficult to get into the game. 4

Man Utd substitutes::

Amad Diallo (on 46, Cunha): Drew a decent save with 20-yard shot. 5

Carlos Baleba (on 46, Santos): His yellow card, not long after coming on, at least showed he cares. Gave the ball away to the wrong player in Paz. 4

Joshua Zirkzee (on 67, Fernandes): 5

Harry Amass (on 79, De Ligt)

Shea Lacey (on 86, Mbeumo)

Subs not used: Darlow, Heaton, Thompson, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Kamason, Armer.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes speaking to TNT Sports: "It's not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way.

"Conceding early makes us go into game with a mood of defeat, it's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen. If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation.

"It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence."

On whether he is saying Michael Carrick got his tactics wrong: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable. As you saw with them [Como], the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half. We need to do that as a team but we were unable to.

"A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide."

Did you know?

• Manchester United are winless in seven consecutive games in all competitions (D3 L4) for the first time since a run of eight matches between November and December 2015.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views here

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Como v Manchester United (17:45)

• Lille v Galatasaray (17:45)

• Aston Villa v Viking

• Bayern Munich v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Club Brugge v Lens

• Inter Milan v Shakhtar Donetsk

• Real Betis v Feyenoord

• Real Madrid v RB Leipzig

• Sporting v LASK

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There are "positives to build on" for Manchester United if they can win their next two fixtures against Como and Bournemouth, says BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater.

On the latest episode of The Devil's Advocate podcast, host Drinkwater discussed United's next few matches with fan Jay Motty of the Stretford Paddock.

Drinkwater said: "Como away is a winnable game - then it puts you in amazing stead in the Champions League, with two wins and one loss. Bournemouth at the weekend, beat them and then things start looking a little bit rosier, don't they?"

Motty added: "Manchester United should be looking at Bournemouth at home as three points, but we just know from the past few seasons that it hasn't been and we know this United side so far this season hasn't got going.

"If I'm Michael Carrick, I'm looking at those fixtures and going: 'Yes, I'm under pressure, but I've got a bunch of games here - or at least back-to-back games - where if we win them, all of a sudden it's a different story.'

"Two wins in the Champions League - especially one away at Como, which is a difficult one - and then you finally get that second win in the Premier League. Then let's build on that.

"Wins do breed confidence but we just haven't had enough of them."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

To many observers, the Manchester United left-back situation was one that could have been anticipated and should have been addressed in the summer.

The fact United spoke to Manchester City about Algeria international Rayan Ait-Nouri on deadline day suggests they did view it as a potential issue.

After starting all 38 Premier League games last term and the first three this, Luke Shaw has played only twice since, and the number of games missed could reach double figures before the 31-year-old returns.

When Diogo Dalot lined up at left-back against Leeds, he became the fifth different player to start there for United in six games.

Aside from Shaw, none of the quintet could be regarded as a natural left-back.

However, after it was suggested Lisandro Martinez's post-match outburst following the defeat by Atletico Madrid was partly down to 20-year-old Ayden Heaven playing at left-back, sources did point out the youngster played more often in that role than in the centre during his youth days at Arsenal.

It was also suggested in the summer that United's coaching team did not believe 19-year-old Harry Amass, who was Shaw's stand-in during pre-season, was yet at the right level.

Amass' single appearance so far this season, as a substitute for the final 18 minutes against Sabah, backs up that view, although Michael Carrick has countered it.

"He's right in contention," Carrick said.

"At some point, young players need an opportunity. It's just finding the right time.

"Sometimes it's because there's an unfortunate thing happened to somebody else. Sometimes it's just you're doing so well we have to give you a chance.

"All the young players are in a similar boat. There's maybe four, five, or six of them trying to make that next step in terms of getting into the team and trying to start games, and Harry's definitely one of them."

Read the full article here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

After the hostile surroundings of Atletico Madrid and Leeds United, Manchester United's third successive away game takes them to the rather more picturesque lakeside setting of Como.

The atmosphere may be less intimidating, but the task will be no easier against a side whose rapid rise under Cesc Fabregas has taken them into Europe for the first time. Promoted to Serie A just two years ago, the Biancoblu pipped AC Milan and Juventus to Champions League qualification last season and marked their debut with a stirring 4-1 win over RB Leipzig.

They were brought back to earth by last week's 3-2 defeat at Feyenoord, but Fabregas insisted any blame for that result lay with him, not his squad.

He says he told them: "Don't hang your heads. These are nights that help you grow." Another formative test awaits against the three-time European champions, although the Red Devils head to Italy short on confidence.

Head coach Michael Carrick likened Sunday's draw at Leeds to a "fresh start", saying he was "encouraged by a lot of things" he saw at Elland Road, but the result extended United's winless run to six matches.

They have not gone seven games without a victory since 2015.

Did you know?

• Italian sides have won just two of their past 16 games against Manchester United (D4, L10).

• Como are the second side in Champions League history who didn't pick one domestic player in their starting XI for their first two matches. The other was Moldova's Sheriff Tiraspol in 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

Key Como player - Nico Paz

The Argentine number 10 is Como's crown jewel and chief creative influence. He contributed 12 goals and six assists in 35 Serie A appearances last season and was named the league's best midfielder.

The son of former Argentina international Pablo Paz, who ended his career in Spain, Nico was born in Tenerife and progressed through Real Madrid's academy before joining Como in 2024.

Como squad summary

Fabregas spent the final year of his glittering playing career in Serie B with Como before briefly coaching their under-19s. He took charge of the first team as caretaker in November 2023, then assisted Welshman Osian Roberts while completing his coaching qualifications.

After they led Como to promotion, Roberts moved into a development role and Fabregas became permanent head coach.

Como's multi-national squad features players from 13 different countries, including England's Trevoh Chalobah. Chalobah has quickly earned a starting role, though he was forced off injured at the weekend.

His former Chelsea team-mate Robert Sanchez, who is on loan from the Blues, has mainly served as understudy to French goalkeeper Jean Butez, playing twice so far.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter in Como

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's record appearance maker Ryan Giggs will have divided loyalties in Como tonight.

Giggs' 168 goals in 963 games for Manchester United assures him of legendary status at Old Trafford.

The 52-year-old is also a former team-mate of Michael Carrick, and also, briefly, his manager following David Moyes' dismissal in 2014, and his coach when he was part of Louis van Gaal's backroom team.

However, Giggs has been invited to tonight's game by Osian Roberts, his former assistant with the Wales national squad.

Roberts, 61, is Como's head of development and works closely with manager Cesc Fabregas in making sure the squad is equipped for the twin demands of competing at the top end of Serie A and in the Champions League.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"You're dead right. I can't argue with that."

Michael Carrick's response was to the point.

The question that prompted it in his pre-match news conference at a rain-lashed Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como concerned his side's failure to keep clean sheets.

It was put to Carrick that it would help if United could manage some shutouts, and he was asked if he had figured out the problem.

United have kept the opposition out just once in 10 games this season, against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK last month.

The failure to sign competition for Luke Shaw is a stick that has been used to beat Carrick and sporting director Jason Wilcox.

There is sympathy amid the agent fraternity for Wilcox, who was given a budget to work to that many in the game felt was inadequate to address United's needs.

There is a theory that the £50m spent to acquire Andrey Santos from Chelsea should have been diverted elsewhere.

With Santos sitting next to him as he spoke to the media on Tuesday, it was hardly a topic Carrick was going to engage with.

"When we've got injuries at different stages, we can always look at what could have been done and where we could have improved," Carrick said.

"I spoke to you about making the best of the transfer window in the situation we had. This man next to us [Santos] was a big part of that. I'm delighted to have him.

"We had to make decisions in the summer. We did what we could do and made the best of it."

Read more on Manchester United's defensive record here

Manchester United are plotting a major defensive overhaul next summer. The club will revisit a deal for Newcastle's 22-year-old left-back Lewis Hall, who is keen to move to Old Trafford. Bournemouth and France defender Adrien Truffert is also a target. (i news), external

Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez is set to leave Manchester United at the end of the season. (Mail), external

Manchester United are continuing to monitor the situation of 28-year-old Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr, with Galatasaray also still interested in the Senegal international. (Teamtalk), external

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