Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has openly questioned Michael Carrick’s tactical approach after the English side suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como in the UEFA Champions League, with the manager responding by criticising his players’ lack of intensity and effort.
The defeat at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday intensified the pressure on Carrick, whose team struggled to contain Como and conceded four goals in a performance that left travelling supporters frustrated.
Fernandes pointed to the coaching staff’s decision not to press Como aggressively as one of the factors behind United’s collapse, arguing that the approach allowed the Italian side to control possession and grow in confidence.
“It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little bit of space in behind, and trying to get the ball, to wait for them,” Fernandes said after the match.
The Portugal international suggested United needed to take greater risks by pressing higher up the pitch rather than allowing Como time and space to build their attacks.
“Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, trying to take a risk of getting that press very high and making them uncomfortable, as they did to us,” he added.
When asked directly whether Carrick had got his tactics wrong, Fernandes declined to take responsibility for the decision, insisting that the assessment belonged to the manager and his coaching staff.
His comments nevertheless placed the spotlight firmly on Carrick’s game plan and exposed a public disagreement over how United approached the contest.
Carrick was subsequently asked about his captain’s remarks and delivered a pointed response, suggesting that tactical decisions could not compensate for a lack of commitment on the pitch.
“We actually half-pressed man-to-man in the second half and then conceded a goal from that,” the United manager said. “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 ain’t going to win.”
The exchange highlighted the frustration surrounding United’s performance, with Fernandes focusing on the tactical setup while Carrick stressed the need for greater intensity and collective responsibility.
Como wasted little time establishing control, opening the scoring through Nico Paz in the second minute. The early setback immediately put United under pressure, and the visitors struggled to produce a convincing response.
Tasos Douvikas extended Como’s advantage before Paz scored again, leaving United three goals behind by the 57th minute. Jacobo Ramón added a fourth in the 76th minute to complete a dominant performance from the Italian side.
Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation for United in stoppage time, but the goal did little to disguise the scale of the defeat.
Fernandes also questioned the mentality United displayed after conceding so early, suggesting that the team appeared to lose confidence instead of responding with greater determination.
“Conceding the goal very early makes us feel, going into the game, already in a mood of a defeat,” he said, explaining that the team needed to remain brave, retain possession and find ways to influence the match even after suffering an early setback.
The captain’s assessment reflected a wider concern about United’s ability to recover when matches begin badly. Against Como, the visitors struggled to impose themselves, while the home side exploited the available space and punished defensive weaknesses.
Carrick, meanwhile, accepted responsibility for the overall performance but made clear his disappointment with the manner in which his team played.
The manager also apologised to the travelling supporters who had made the journey to Italy. Around 700 United fans had travelled for the match, and Carrick acknowledged that they deserved far better from the team.
“For us to play in that way is not acceptable,” he said, expressing his frustration with the display.
The result has increased scrutiny of Carrick’s position, with United enduring a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign. However, the public exchange between the manager and captain does not, by itself, establish that a dressing-room split has developed or that Carrick’s departure is imminent.
What it does reveal is the scale of the problems confronting United. The manager believes the team must show greater commitment and intensity, while the captain has called for a more aggressive tactical approach against opponents who are comfortable in possession.
United must now find a way to address both concerns ahead of their next fixtures. With pressure mounting, Carrick will need his players to respond on the pitch, while Fernandes and his teammates must turn their criticism into improved performances.
The defeat to Como was damaging enough on its own. The public disagreement that followed has added another layer of scrutiny to an already difficult period for Manchester United.
