Bruno Fernandes has hit out at Michael Carrick after the Man United vs Como horror show

Manchester United’s 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como was bad enough, but the fallout from the game has left manager Michael Carrick facing fresh questions about his tactics and future. For the second Champions League game in a row, United’s post-match talk threatened to overshadow the team’s performance, with captain Bruno Fernandes now publicly questioning the coaching staff’s approach.

United fell behind inside two minutes when Nico Paz opened the scoring before Como added three more goals, including another from Paz, on a miserable night for the visitors. Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation but the damage was already done.

After the match, Fernandes’ pointed assessment of the coaching staff’s pressure strategy quickly shifted focus from the result to the growing discord in the squad.

“It’s a personnel decision not to press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much of the ball to these teams, they gain confidence,” Fernandes told TNT Sports.

In their second appearance in the Champions League, United’s on-pitch performance was followed by a post-match interview that sparked more conversation about what was going wrong at the club.

Highlights: Como 4-1 Manchester United Nico Paz 2′,57′ Douvikas 49′ Ramon 76′ Zirkzee 91′ #ChampionsLeague WFTVLIVE (@WFTV46) October 22, 2026

Asked directly if Carrick had made a mistake in his tactics, the United captain was clear about where he felt the responsibility lay.

“That’s for the manager and the staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be braver under pressure, risk pushing high and making them uncomfortable,” he added.

Asked about Fernandes’ criticism afterwards, Carrick responded bluntly, pointing to the players’ work-rate rather than the system.

“There’s a little bit any system you play, any tactic you play, if you don’t run and run forward and run back, you’re not going to win,” the United head coach said.

ANOTHER DEFEAT, ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEW

It is the second Champions League defeat in a row, after the Manchester United player’s post-match interview sparked controversy. After their 2-0 loss to Atlético Madrid last week, Lisandro Martinez publicly questioned the club’s summer recruitment and selected technical director Jason Wilcoxhe said he expected more from the people in charge.

Martinez later apologized for the way he expressed his frustration after dealing with the club’s management.

Fernandes’ criticism now focused on Carrick and his staff. While the skipper questioned United’s pressing plan, the manager’s response made it clear he felt the players had not done enough on the pitch.

The trade only added to the scrutiny surrounding a team struggling to find its footing.

IS CARRICK’S FUTURE AT UNITED AT RISK?

The defeat has put Michael Carrick under fresh pressure, with Manchester United now seven games without a win in all competitions. The former midfielder led the club back to the Champions League last season and was rewarded with a two-year contract, but the team’s performances have taken a sharp turn for the worse in the new campaign.

Carrick did not try to hide his frustration after losing to Como. He took responsibility for the performance while making it clear that the players had not met the standards expected at United.

“It was more than disappointing. I think everyone has to take responsibility for it. I take responsibility for the whole team and the performance, it ends with me and I’m fine with that,” he said.

The United manager also apologized to the traveling supporters and admitted the display was difficult to watch.

“I care incredibly about the supporters. They are the heart of this football club and always will be. I have to apologize for the performance. Everything they did to get here tonight to watch that performance tonight, I feel for them,” added Carrick.

Asked if he was worried about losing his job, Carrick insisted he had not thought about his position at all.

“Look, I haven’t thought about my own attitude at all. They’re supporters. I was one of them watching tonight and I wasn’t happy at all,” he said.

United are 13th in the Premier League and face Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday. With the results still going against them, Carrick needs a quick response from his players.

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