Bruno Fernandes questions Michael Carrick’s tactics after Manchester United’s 1-4 loss to Como

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has questioned manager Michael Carrick’s tactics after the team’s 1-4 defeat to Como in the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 league phase. The result left United winless in seven consecutive games across all competitions, their first such run since an eight-match sequence between November and December 2015. Argentine Nicolas Paz grabbed a brace, including a second-minute strike, while Jacobo Ramon and Anastasios Douvikas scored one each. Joshua Zirkzee found a consolation goal for United in stoppage time. It was the second straight Champions League game in which United conceded inside two minutes, after Nico Paz breached the defence against Atletico Madrid in the first minute. ## Fernandes points to coaching staff Fernandes told TNT Sports that the choice not to press man-to-man and to leave space behind was a decision from the staff. He said giving the opposition too much time on the ball made them confident and left United’s players frustrated and tired. The midfielder added that it was on the manager and staff to identify and address the problem, not on him. > That's on the manager and on the staff to see it, it's not on me ## Carrick hits back over effort Carrick defended the tactical approach but said United’s lack of effort off the ball was a bigger issue. He told TNT Sports that the team half pressed man-to-man in the second half and still conceded. He stressed that no tactics would work if players did not track back, and described the performance as unacceptable. ## Context Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. The Italian side outperformed their expected goals figure of 2.04 by scoring four, while United’s expected goals of 1.05 was described as poor for a Champions League night. The defeat follows Lisandro Martinez’s criticism of the club’s sporting director over recruitment after the loss to Atletico Madrid.

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Sources

• Hindustan Times

• Sportstar

• Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)