Manchester United endured a miserable Champions League evening on Wednesday as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Como, with Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Carlos Baleba among the players who struggled in Italy.
Nico Paz inspired Cesc Fabregas’ side with two goals and an assist, while Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon also found the net. Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation, but Michael Carrick’s team were outplayed for much of the contest.
Here are the Manchester United player ratings from the defeat.
Senne Lammens: 6/10
Lammens was one of United’s more reliable performers despite conceding four goals. He made important saves but received little protection from the defenders in front of him. Paz’s opening strike left him with little chance, while Como’s movement repeatedly exposed the defensive line.
Diogo Dalot: 4/10
Dalot missed an early opportunity to put United ahead, failing to make the most of a promising opening before Como took the lead. He subsequently struggled to contain the hosts’ attacking movement. His early miss proved costly as United quickly found themselves chasing the game.
Harry Maguire: 3/10
Maguire endured a difficult evening and was partly responsible for the space Paz exploited to score Como’s opener. The centre-back failed to close down the Argentine effectively, allowing him to turn and curl the ball into the far corner. Maguire struggled to restore order as Como continued to find gaps in United’s defence.
Matthijs de Ligt: 4/10
Making his first appearance in 325 days, De Ligt faced a challenging return to action. Douvikas ran beyond him to score Como’s second goal, exposing United’s vulnerability to forward runs. The defender was replaced by Harry Amass in the 79th minute after a difficult outing.
Noussair Mazraoui: 3/10
Mazraoui struggled to contain Como’s movement and looked uncomfortable under pressure. He was repeatedly challenged by the hosts’ wide players, while his defensive positioning failed to prevent Como from creating dangerous opportunities. It was one of the weakest performances in United’s backline.
Mason Mount: 4/10
Mount worked to support United’s midfield but struggled to influence the game. Como’s superior passing and movement left him chasing possession for long periods, and he failed to provide the attacking spark needed to bring United back into contention.
Andrey Santos: 3/10
Santos struggled to protect the defence and received a yellow card in the 25th minute. His inability to limit Paz’s influence contributed to United’s midfield problems. Carrick substituted him at half-time as he attempted to change the course of the match.
Youri Tielemans: 4/10
Tielemans failed to establish control in midfield. Como repeatedly moved the ball through the central areas, leaving the Belgian unable to provide sufficient defensive protection or create a consistent supply for United’s forwards.
Bruno Fernandes: 4/10
United’s captain struggled to influence the contest. Fernandes frequently dropped deeper to receive the ball, leaving the team without enough creativity in advanced areas. He was replaced by Zirkzee in the second half as Carrick sought a more direct attacking option.
Matheus Cunha: 4/10
Cunha failed to make a meaningful impact before being withdrawn at half-time. United struggled to get him the ball in dangerous positions, and Como’s control of midfield limited his opportunities to create chances or drive forward.
Bryan Mbeumo: 4/10
Mbeumo was largely isolated and struggled to trouble Como’s defence. United’s limited attacking combinations left the forward without consistent service, and he was unable to turn his pace into a significant threat.
Carlos Baleba: 2/10
Baleba endured a disastrous introduction after replacing Santos at half-time. He received a yellow card shortly after coming on before making the costly error that allowed Paz to score his second goal in the 57th minute. His misplaced pass gave the Argentine the opportunity to advance and finish clinically. It was a game-changing mistake in an already difficult match.
Amad Diallo: 6/10
Diallo brought greater urgency to United’s attack after entering at half-time. He offered a more direct threat and provided the cross that Zirkzee converted for United’s late consolation. Although he could not rescue the result, his contribution was one of the few positives for Carrick.
Joshua Zirkzee: 7/10
Zirkzee made an encouraging impact off the bench, scoring United’s only goal in stoppage time. He met Amad’s cross after beating the offside trap and finished to deny Como a clean sheet. His late contribution could not change the outcome, but he was one of United’s most effective attacking players.
Harry Amass: 5/10
Amass replaced De Ligt in the closing stages and gained valuable experience. With the result already beyond United’s reach, he had little time to influence the contest.
Shea Lacey: 5/10
Lacey came on late as United sought an attacking response. He received a yellow card shortly after entering the match but had limited time to make a meaningful difference.
Michael Carrick: 3/10
Carrick struggled to organise a response to Como’s attacking threat. His half-time substitutions failed to prevent the hosts from extending their lead, while United’s midfield and defence remained vulnerable. Although injuries and suspensions limited his options, the team’s lack of cohesion was a major concern.
United’s defeat was a collective failure, but Maguire’s defensive errors and Baleba’s costly mistake stood out. Lammens, Amad and Zirkzee offered some resistance, yet Como’s superiority left Carrick with serious questions to answer ahead of United’s next fixture.
